UPI NewsTrack Quirks in the News

School sues for $29,000 tip back

SOUTH BEND, Ind., Sept. 17 (UPI) -- A woman who mistakenly received a $29,000 tip while working for the University of Notre Dame catering department said the Indiana school is suing for the money.

Sara Gaspar, 47, said she tried to inform the university after the money appeared in her bank account April 17, but she spent the money on medical bills and a 2002 Volkswagen Jetta when she never heard back from officials, the South Bend (Ind.) Tribune reported Thursday.

"I guess because it was there and I was in a bad situation, I went out and spent it," she said.

Gasper said the city didn't contact her seeking the money until May, after she had spent the sum. Officials said a "mistake" resulted in the $29,387 deposit instead of the $29.87 gratuity Gasper was owed. Gasper was fired when the university noticed the mistake.

Gasper said she has been in contact with a lawyer who told her she should be able to keep the money because it was classified as "gratuity" and not "wages."

Girl, 6, helps mom give birth

FUQUAY-VARINA, N.C., Sept. 17 (UPI) -- A North Carolina family is heaping praise on a 6-year-old girl who served as her mother's only helper during an emergency home birth.

Briana Johnson of Fuquay-Varina, N.C., said she began feeling mild contractions early Wednesday and called her father for a ride to the hospital when her water broke upon stepping out of bed, the Raleigh (N.C.) News & Observer reported Thursday.

Johnson said she soon realized the baby was coming faster than her father and called an ambulance. She woke her 6-year-old daughter, Diyana, to assist with the birth.

"I was asleep and my mama woke me up," the first-grader said. "She had stomach pains, and then she had the baby. I helped by getting the baby a blanket and opening the door for the rescue squad."

Johnson, a nurse at Raleigh's Tammy Lynn Center, said Diyana helped her deliver baby Madisyn before emergency crews arrived. Johnson and her father, Torris Jones, praised the 6-year-old for her help and bravery during the incident.

"I just thought that was awesome," Jones said. "She said, 'I almost cried when my mama was screaming. You told me to be a big girl, and I was a big girl.'"

Golfer sinks three holes-in-one in 5 days

HALIFAX, Nova Scotia, Sept. 17 (UPI) -- A Canadian golfer defied astronomical odds and hit three holes-in-one over five days of playing at the same public course in Cape Breton, Nova Scotia.

Lobster fisherman Adam Sams, 34, played at the Highland Links course each day from Friday, when he sank his first one, through Tuesday, sinking his second and third aces every second day, Canwest News Service reported Thursday.

Sams said when his first one went in, his thoughts immediately jumped to his eight friends golfing with him.

"My first reaction was: 'There's eight guys I've now got to buy drinks for,'" he said.

He said he hit the first one on the 171-yard, par three 17th hole with a nine iron. The second on Sunday was on the 164-yard fifth hole using the same nine iron. The third was scored with his pitching wedge at the 160-yard third hole.

Sams, who plays with a two-handicap, said the third one caused physical reactions.

"My whole body started to shake actually," he said. "You play 20 years and don't have any holes-in-one, then you get three in five days, it's amazing."

Man wins ladies poker tournament

ATLANTIC CITY, N.J., Sept. 17 (UPI) -- A man who won the $20,982 first prize at an Atlantic City casino's ladies poker tournament has drawn the ire of his female competition.

Abraham Kortotki, 65, who said he entered the all-women, no-limit, Texas hold 'em poker tournament at the Borgata casino because he had been eliminated from another tournament and had seen other men register for it online, edged out second-place finisher Nicole Rowe, 40, a breast cancer sufferer who intended to use any winnings to help cover her living expenses while recovering from a mastectomy scheduled for this month, WPIX-TV, New York, reported Thursday.

Rowe said she was upset Kortotki refused to share his winnings with her. Kortotki said he plans to split the prize money among three charities, including a breast cancer charity.

Borgata officials said while the event was aimed at women, they are legally required to allow anyone over the age of 21 to participate.

"Borgata offers specialty tournaments, including the ladies event," said Joe Lupo, senior vice president of the hotel casino. "In the spirit of this event, it was our hope that only women would have participated, as has happened in the past ... . However, given legal requirements, we must allow anyone who is over the age of 21 the opportunity to participate."