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Woman, 105, Facebook's oldest user

SANTA BARBARA, Calif., Feb. 7 (UPI) -- A 105-year-old California woman believed to be Facebook's oldest user said she is trying to get 105,000 likes for a charity's page.

Edythe Kirchmaier, who is also California's oldest licensed driver and the oldest living former student of the University of Chicago, said Direct Relief, a Santa Barbara-based medical charity where she has been a volunteer for 40 years, set up a Facebook page for her in honor of her birthday last month, ABC News reported Thursday.

"I've been contacted by such wonderful people and received such nice messages and pictures from people all over the world," Kirchmaier said. "I'm so humbled by all the interest in me."

Kirchmaier said she is hoping her new Facebook friends will help popularize Direct Relief's fan page.

"I'm hoping to get 105,000 likes for the page," she said.

Mayor chases down burglary suspect

RED OAK, Iowa, Feb. 7 (UPI) -- An Iowa mayor said he jumped in his car and chased down a suspected burglar spotted approaching the back of his home.

Red Oak Mayor Bill Billings said he was home with his wife Meshell, daughter Jessica Skalberg, 24, and Jessica's 19-month-old son about 9:15 p.m. Friday when his 16-year-old daughter pulled into the driveway and spotted a man approaching the back door of the home, the Omaha (Neb.) World reported Thursday.

Courtney called her sister, who then alerted their father.

The mayor said he followed footprints in the snow from his backdoor toward the city's downtown and, using his Lexus, soon caught up to the suspect.

"He wasn't very smart. He picked the wrong house, and he sure shouldn't have been wearing orange pants," Billings said.

Billings called police and officers were able to cut the man off as he was fleeing Billings.

Police said they believe the man, whose name was not released, burglarized a garage before approaching Billings' home.

The man was charged with second-degree burglary, attempted second-degree burglary and possession of drug paraphernalia.

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Woman arrested looking for strip club

WEST DES MOINES, Iowa, Feb. 7 (UPI) -- Police in Iowa said a woman busted on drug charges was a passenger in a car that ended up in a police lot on the way to a strip club.

West Des Moines police said the car, driven by a male whose name was not released, was seen pulling into the West Des Moines Police Station early Friday and officers followed when it pulled into a private area for authorized personnel only, the West Des Moines (Iowa) Patch reported Thursday.

Police said they found a burnt end of a marijuana cigarette and a bag with marijuana residue in the car, but the man told them the objects were old and he hasn't "smoked any lately" since being on probation.

Alexandria Kay Siddens, 20, a passenger in the back seat of the car, was found to have prescription drugs hydrocodone and Elmiron in her purse as well as a driver's license belonging to a New Jersey woman.

The pair told police they were searching for the Beach Girls strip club.

Siddens was charged with illegal possession of Schedule II narcotics.

Prosthetic eye falls out during trial

PHILADELPHIA, Feb. 7 (UPI) -- A Philadelphia judge declared a mistrial when a witness detailing how he lost an eye in an alleged assault lost his prosthetic eye on the stand.

John Huttick, 48, was telling the jury Wednesday how Matthew Brunelli, 23, allegedly cost him an eye with a punch to the face Aug. 18, 2011, at the New Princeton Tavern when the crying Huttick's prosthetic eye fell out of the socket, The Philadelphia Inquirer reported Thursday.

Judge Robert Coleman granted the mistrial motion from defense attorney Eileen Hurley, calling the incident an "unfortunate, unforeseen incident."

"I couldn't believe it just came out," Huttick said after the mistrial was declared.

Coleman set a new trial date for March 4.