Watercooler Stories

Mysterious sounds attributed to Bigfoot

PENDLETON, Ore., Jan. 21 (UPI) -- Some residents of the Umatilla Indian Reservation in Oregon say they believe mysterious cries coming from a nearby swamp are being made by Bigfoot.

Colleen Chance, a tribal housing authority employee on the reservation, located east of Pendleton, said the cries were first reported last month and there are many theories as to what animals are making the sounds, The (Portland) Oregonian reported Monday.

"It's kind of spooky," she said. "Some say it's foxes, some say it's a female coyote and some say it's Sasquatch. I don't know what it is."

Some members of the Umatilla, Walla Walla and Cayuse tribes said they are convinced the sounds are coming from the legendary ape-like humanoid Sasquatch, or Bigfoot. Marcus Luke, a housing authority home ownership counselor and follower of the Washat, or Seven Drums, religion, said Bigfoot is part of the tribal tradition and spiritual beliefs.

However, Carl Sheeler, wildlife program manager for the tribes, said there are several more likely culprits, including cougars, that the never-verified Big Foot.

"When they are breeding, it is absolutely hair-raising," he said of the cougars' mating calls.

"And the first time a person hears a fox calling in the night, kind of echoing around the canyons, it raises the hair on the back of your neck," Sheeler said. "That wetland is a perfect place to have an echoing call sound eerie."

Man charged in urn attack

LORAIN, Ohio, Jan. 21 (UPI) -- An Ohio man was arrested for allegedly smashing an urn full of human ashes over the head of another man during an argument, police said.

Lorain Police said Joel Perez, 23, became irate Friday morning after fighting with his brother and he allegedly started breaking items and threatened to kill his sibling, The (Lorain) Morning Journal reported Monday.

Officer Jesse Perkins wrote he arrived on the scene and witnessed Perez break the large blue urn over the head of another man, knocking him unconscious. The breaking of the urn caused a cloud of human ashes to emerge.

It was unclear whether the victim, who suffered cuts to his head and body, was Perez's brother.

Perkins said Perez struggled with him even after he and another officer both shocked the suspect with Taser darts.

Perez was arrested and charged with resisting arrest, felonious assault and domestic violence.

Police did not release information regarding the identity of the remains from the urn.

NYC cafe aromas upset upstairs neighbors

NEW YORK, Jan. 21 (UPI) -- Residents of the apartments above a trendy New York cafe said their residences have been filled with overpowering food aromas from the eatery.

People living in some of the 157 A.T. White Riverside Apartments above the Iris Cafe in Brooklyn said the eatery, which opened in 2009, lacks a ventilation system, so the business fills their domiciles with the smells of coffee, beef jerky, baked goods and other food items, the New York Post reported Monday.

"It's been horrible," said Ida Cigara, who lives above the takeout shop with her husband, Jimmy, and their 5-month-old son.

"When I was pregnant last year, I was puking every day from the smell, and now we're concerned the odors are going to cause our son respiratory problems. His room smells so bad -- even the stuffed animals stink of food."

The Department of Environmental Protection sent inspectors out in May, June and September of last year to investigate complaints and the business was fined a total $2,400 for "strong odors" described by an inspector as "offensive."

Salah Hamden, co-owner of the cafe, said he is not legally obligated to install a ventilation system because he cooks with an electric stove.

"I want to be a good neighbor and am always willing to talk, but if I install a ventilation system, then other people in the building might complain it's too noisy," he said.

Hamden said he lives above the cafe and is not bothered by the aromas, but other neighbors speaking on condition of anonymity said they often find the odors offensive, particularly when something is burned.

Caesars' MBA poker event picks interns

LAS VEGAS, Jan. 21 (UPI) -- Caesars Entertainment said more than 500 people anted up at its MBA Poker Championships and Recruitment Weekend in Las Vegas.

The company said the weekend, an annual event held during the past eight years, involved Masters of Business Administration students and graduates playing poker and meeting with recruiters and executives in the hopes of landing two-year internships with Caesars' President's Associate Program, the Las Vegas Sun reported Monday.

"Look at the skills required of quality poker players," said Paul King, corporate director of talent and recruiting for Caesars. "They are the same types of qualities we look for in candidates. They are analytical in nature, strategic in approach to the game and savvy in the way they play. What we're looking for is a critical eye and analytical thinking skills."

The company said four of the 12 people given internships at last year's event have moved on to full-time jobs with Caesars.