Subscribe | UPI Odd Newsletter Subscribe 'Worst Irish Tenor' marches in parade ST. PAUL, Minn., March 17 (UPI) -- A Minnesota woman dubbed the "World's Worst Irish Tenor" said she celebrated her title by marching in a St. Patrick's Day parade Wednesday. Advertisement Shauna Vooris Connelly, 53, of St. Paul, said she marches in the local parade with her husband's clan every year, but his year holds special significance as she was awarded the "World's Worst Irish Tenor" title during a competition last week by the St. Patrick's Association, the St. Paul Pioneer-Press reported Wednesday. Connelly said she is not only celebrating her title, but overcoming her stage fright during the competition. "I had a really bad, bad, bad case of stage fright," she said. "It crept up on me, increasing and increasing and increasing, despite my love of performing." "I'm the best of the worst," Connelly said. "My vocal coach is so proud of me." Advertisement She said it took practice to sing poorly. "I took one extra private lesson with my voice coach," Connelly said. "Trying to sing off key is actually tough, because I have pretty good pitch in real life." Government tells woman she's dead GARDEN OF EDEN, Nova Scotia, March 17 (UPI) -- A Nova Scotia woman had to inform the Canadian government twice she isn't dead and she still wants her old age security check each month. The confusion began in December when Theresa Fraser, 77, went to her bank in the town of Garden of Eden and learned her check hadn't been deposited. A bank clerk called the government and was told Fraser was dead, The (Pictou County) News reported. Fraser learned she had been confused with another woman with the same name who had died last year. Her replacement check came and others since, but on March 9 she got a letter addressed to her estate demanding a tax refund check be returned to the Canada Revenue Agency. For a second time, Fraser worked the phone to get the matter sorted out. She said she hasn't received an apology for either incident and doesn't understand federal bureaucracy. Advertisement "What are they doing up in Ottawa now, when they can't read or don't care anymore?" she asked the newspaper. Man arrested for shooting own fence MANDEVILLE, La., March 17 (UPI) -- Police in Louisiana said a man was arrested on a firearms charge for shooting his shotgun at his own fence to "blow off steam" following an argument. Mandeville police said neighbors reported gunshots coming from the home of Michael Housey, 41, at about 4:15 p.m. Sunday and the homeowner told responding officers he had fired his 12-gauge shotgun at his own fence to "blow off steam" after an argument with his wife, the New Orleans Times-Picayune reported Wednesday. Officer Eric Gulino, a police spokesman, said police found four spent shotgun shells on the ground. He said it is illegal to discharge a weapon in Mandeville. Housey was arrested and charged with felony counts of illegally discharging a weapon and aggravated criminal damage to property as well as a misdemeanor count of disturbing the peace. ER-visiting dog back at home FARMINGHAM, N.M., March 17 (UPI) -- A German Shepherd mix that wandered injured into a New Mexico emergency room is back home after its owner saw his dog's picture in the paper. Advertisement Randy Juckes said his dog, Scottie, disappeared March 7 and he was unable to locate the canine until a picture of the dog appeared in The (Farmingham, N.M.) Daily Times following Scottie's Saturday adventure in the San Juan Regional Medical Center's emergency room, The Daily Times reported Wednesday. Animal control officers said Scottie wandered into the emergency room Saturday night with blood on his nose and paw and a puncture hole in his rear leg. Officer Robin Love said the wounds appeared to be from a fight with another dog and were not serious enough to require veterinary attention. Scottie was taken to the Farmington Animal Shelter, where he received water and vaccinations. "We're going to have to pay to bail him out," Juckes said of picking up his pet. He said the dog apparently wandered off after another dog knocked his gate open.
