UPI NewsTrack Quirks in the News

Man, 83, ready to get high school diploma

SAN JOSE, Calif., June 8 (UPI) -- An 83-year-old man in San Jose, Calif., says watching his grandchildren graduate from college inspired him to finally earn his high school diploma.

Frank Ganz said despite the fact he dropped out of school when he was in the ninth grade, he was an adamant proponent of education when it came to his 12 grandchildren, the San Jose (Calif.) Mercury News reported Monday.

"I always told my grandchildren 'Make sure you graduate high school,'" the retired auto parts store owner said. "But inside it always burned that I didn't finish. I was always embarrassed. When my grandchildren started going off to college, I made up my mind. I said 'I'm going to do it.'"

Ganz earned his degree through an independent study program offered by the Metropolitan Adult Education Program, the Mercury News said.

Now Ganz's grandchildren, along with his four children and five great-grandchildren, can watch as their relative receives his long-delayed diploma on June 17.

Swedish air force to pay for killed hens

STOCKHOLM, Sweden, June 8 (UPI) -- The Swedish military said it will compensate a poultry farmer whose 31 chickens were killed accidentally during an air force exercise.

Farmer Asa Karlsson said in her complaint to the armed forces that her chickens were terrified when a Jas Gripen fighter aircraft flew at a lot altitude over their coop and 31 birds were crushed to death in the ensuing panic, The Local reported Monday.

The air force's Norrbotten wing agreed to pay $775 for the loss of the hens, a sum that was agreed upon based on the expected life span of the chickens and the amount of eggs they were expected to produce.

Ohio grads told to 'leave the state'

EASTLAKE, Ohio, June 8 (UPI) -- An Ohio high school has corrected an error in notes sent home to seniors that told them they would have to "leave the state immediately after the ceremony."

North High School in Eastlake issued a correction stating: "The graduates will leave the State Theatre immediately after the ceremony," The (Cleveland) Plain Dealer reported Monday.

However, the correction included its own error: Students were told to be at the theater no later than 3:45 a.m. instead of the intended 3:45 p.m.

Couple, 93 and 89, wed in Florida

PALM BEACH, Fla., June 8 (UPI) -- A 93-year-old Florida man married his 89-year-old sweetheart after a brief courtship that followed about 20 years of friendship, the man says.

Ebenezer Rose, 93, whose previous wife of 58 years, Bernice, died about four years ago, said he met his new bride, Monica Hayden, 89, about 20 years ago in church, the Palm Beach (Fla.) Post reported Monday.

"She had eyes on me all these years," he said of his bride, whose previous husbands are both deceased. "By God's grace, we're here."

Rose said he proposed to Hayden about six months ago and the couple tied the knot Sunday at the Crowne Plaza hotel in Palm Beach.

"I told her, `Each of us is living a lonely life. Why not get married?'" he recalled.

The newly minted Mrs. Rose, wearing white gloves, a beaded shawl and a glittering tiara, said the ceremony was "beautiful."

"It was more than I expected," she said.