UPI NewsTrack Quirks in the News

Montana man, 112, downplays oldest title

GREAT FALLS, Mont., July 20 (UPI) -- Walter Breuning of Great Falls, Mont., says being 112 years old and the world's oldest known man is truly not a big deal to him.

The Great Falls (Mont.) Tribune said Monday while Breuning accepted congratulations for his new title following the death of 113-year-old British national Henry Allingham, the senior was more concerned about his health.

"It's not half as important as feeling good," he said regarding his title of world's oldest man.

"If you're in good health, you've got everything there is," he added.

Breuning was named the world's oldest living man on the Web sites of the Guinness World Records and the Gerontology Research Group, but both honors have yet to be verified.

The active senior told the Tribune the key to his long life has been moderation and keeping busy.

Breuning added he eats two meals daily, takes no pill medications and routinely eats fruit and walks up the ramps to his second-floor room at a Montana retirement home.

Scorpions on a plane

INDIANAPOLIS, July 20 (UPI) -- A venomous scorpion hitched a ride on a jet plane bound from Phoenix to Indianapolis and stung one passenger before it was captured when the aircraft landed.

Marilee McInnis, a spokeswoman for Southwest Airlines, said the passenger was not seriously hurt and the Arizona bark scorpion and five of its babies were destroyed Sunday after Flight 2093 arrived at Indianapolis International Airport, the Indianapolis Star reported Monday.

Airport spokeswoman Susan Sullivan said Douglas Herbstsommer, 44, discovered the arachnids in his carry-on luggage and was stung by the adult about a half an hour before the plane landed. Herbstsommer was treated at the airport and did not require hospitalization.

McInnis said the jetliner was fumigated overnight to make sure there were no additional scorpions.

Letter lost for 10 years rekindles love

PAIGNTON, England, July 20 (UPI) -- A couple who first met 17 years ago said they have finally married following a 10-year lull involving a lost letter, the British groom said.

Steve Smith, 42, said he and Carmen Ruiz-Perez, 42, met and fell in love 17 years ago in Devon, England, while Ruiz-Perez, a native of Spain, was involved in a foreign study program, The Times of London reported Monday.

Smith said the initial year-long relationship ended when his beloved moved to Paris, but he never stopped thinking about her and eventually sent a letter to Ruiz-Perez's mother's address in Spain with the hopes of rekindling the romance.

However, Ruiz-Perez's mother put the letter on her mantle, where it fell behind the fireplace and went undiscovered for 10 years until the fireplace was taken apart for renovations.

"When I got the letter I didn't phone Steve right away because I was so nervous. I nearly didn't phone him at all. I kept picking up the phone then putting it down again. But I knew I had to make the call," Ruiz-Perez said.

Smith, of Paignton, England, said more than a decade apart had not cooled their passions for one another.

"When we met again it was like a film. We ran across the airport into each other's arms. We met up and fell in love all over again. Within 30 seconds of setting eyes on each other we were kissing. I'm just glad the letter did eventually end up where it was supposed to be," he said.

The couple married last week.

Engaged couple already share same name

CORAL SPRINGS, Fla., July 20 (UPI) -- An engaged U.S. couple said they originally met via Facebook when the bride-to-be searched for people who share her name.

Kelly Hildebrandt, 20, of Coral Springs, Fla., said she searched the social networking site for her name and discovered a "pleasant" looking male Kelly Hildebrandt living in Lubbock, Texas, WFOR-TV, Miami, reported Monday.

"I searched my name to see what else was out there. I was just curious," Hildebrandt said. "I was pleasantly surprised when I saw the search list. I just sent him a message."

"I thought she was pretty cute and we got to talking and I was thinking I had family in Florida and we found out there's no relation," her beau said. "But through it all, we built a friendship."

The male Hildebrandt said the two exchanged e-mails that led to long flirtatious phone calls.

"I guess I just finally told her, 'If you get your scuba certification, then I'll come down there and dive with you,'" he said.

The female Kelly did just that, and the couple said they fell immediately in love when the male Hildebrandt made good on his promise.

The pair said they are planning to marry in October.

They said sharing the same name has already lead to some mishaps. They said they nearly had to cancel a trip on a cruise ship when a travel agent who assumed the same information had been entered twice removed one of their names from the system.