UPI NewsTrack Quirks in the News

Teacher fined for cutting girl's hair

MILWAUKEE, Dec. 14 (UPI) -- Authorities in Milwaukee said a teacher who punished a student by cutting her hair was issued a $175 ticket for disorderly conduct.

Milwaukee police said they issued the ticket to the teacher, who was not named, after the district attorney's office decided not to pursue physical or mental abuse of a child charges, WISN-TV, Milwaukee, reported Monday.

The Congress Elementary teacher called Lamya Cammon, 7, in front of the class after she was repeatedly told to stop playing with her braids last week, the girl and her family said.

"She told me to stop playing with it. Then cut it off and sent me back to my desk," said Cammon, whose hair is styled in dozens of braids.

Helen Cunningham, the girl's mother, said she went into the school and confronted the teacher.

"I said, 'Well, you know, you cut a lot of her hair off.' And she was like, 'Well, I do apologize.' She said, 'But I was frustrated,'" Cunningham said. "Why would we want someone like that teaching our kids? We trust our kids once they go to school to be safe."

School district officials said the teacher remains in class while disciplinary measures are investigated. They said Cammon was moved to a different class.

Scientist seeks no-shed Christmas trees

PUYALLUP, Wash., Dec. 14 (UPI) -- A Washington State University scientist and Christmas tree expert says he is close to genetically creating a breed of tree that doesn't shed its needles.

Gary Chastagner, who was dubbed "Mr. Christmas Tree" for his work in creating new species of Christmas trees, combating diseases in conifers and releasing guidelines for keeping trees fresh after cutting, said he hopes the needle-retaining fir trees will be available for holiday purchase within the next few years, The Seattle Times reported Monday.

Chastagner's research involved observing test trees and removing those that lost their needles too easily, while encouraging those that retained their needles to carry on their lineages at the university's Puyallup Research and Extension Center. He said 15 acres of conifers from all around the world grow at the center.

The scientist said the toughest test is finding trees that retain their needles after drying out.

"It's one thing if the tree goes dry," Chastagner said. "It's another if the tree goes dry and all the needles fall off."

Florida police arrest 'Merry Christmas'

BOYNTON BEACH, Fla., Dec. 14 (UPI) -- Police in Florida said a woman arrested for obstructing an investigation has an unusual and seasonally appropriate name: Merry Christmas.

Boynton Beach police said Merry Christmas, 44, who has a Dec. 28 birthday, was arrested Sunday for obstructing an investigation into a disturbance that was not disclosed by investigators, the Palm Beach (Fla.) Post reported Monday.

Christmas was issued a notice to appear in court and released.

Officers said Dexter Johnson, 36, was arrested for allegedly shoving the officer who was arresting Christmas. He was charged with battery on a law enforcement officer and taken to the Palm Beach County Jail.

Single-month cellular bill nears $22,000

HAYWARD, Calif., Dec. 14 (UPI) -- A California man said his son incurred nearly $22,000 in data usage charges during a single month on his Verizon cell phone plan.

Ted Estarija of Hayward said his monthly cell phone bill is usually $93.79, but the total shot up to $21,917.59 this month after he added his son, who lives with his mother in Fremont, Calif., to his plan, the Oakland (Calif.) Tribune reported Monday.

Estarija said he signed his son up for only phone and text, causing a $1.99 charge to be added to the bill for each megabyte of data transferred. Verizon officials said YouTube and other streaming video sites are often the culprits behind inflated bills due to the amount of data transfer involved.

Estarija, who has been unemployed since losing his job as an accountant in October, said he contacted Verizon about the bill and officials got back to him after his story received coverage in local and national media outlets including "Good Morning America."

"I think that rattled their cages and got things cleared up," Estarija said. "They said they're going to credit the whole thing. It's a weight off my shoulders."