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Octogenarian fells lion in yard

FAIRBURN, S.D., Jan. 9 (UPI) -- An 80-year-old Fairburn, S.D., woman shot and killed a mountain lion that was squaring off with her dog in her yard.

Martha Smith said she first fired at the lion when she came outside and saw the cat snarling at her Border collie, Bo, whose barking alerted Smith to the unwelcome guest, The Rapid City (S.D.) Journal reported Wednesday.

Smith missed with her first shot, which failed to scare off the intruder, and went inside to phone the authorities. However, the 911 dispatcher told Smith no one from Game, Fish & Parks was immediately available to take care of the lion.

Smith said she saw no other option than to take a second shot at the big cat.

"I knew I'd have to kill him," she said. "You can't have a mountain lion in your yard."

She said she got within 20 or 25 feet of the lion and felled the beast in a single, second shot.

"I got as close as I could," Smith said. "I figured he'd run. I waited until he lifted his leg to run, and I got him right in the chest where his heart would be."

Attempted N.Y. jumper may face new charges

NEW YORK, Jan. 9 (UPI) -- A New York court is considering whether to file felony endangerment charges against a man who attempted to parachute from the Empire State Building.

Lawyers for Jeb Corliss argued before four Manhattan Appellate Division judges that their client took proper precautions to ensure no one would have been hurt in his aborted 2006 jump, the New York Post reported Wednesday.

Previous charges filed against Corliss for the incident were tossed out by Manhattan Supreme Court Justice Michael Ambrecht, who said the daredevil took enough precautions that his behavior could not be considered reckless.

Lawyers for Corliss, who was not present at Tuesday's hearing, said the jumper is busy developing a high tech suit that would allow him to glide from an airplane to the ground like a flying squirrel.

"He's busy planning to be the first person in the world to fly like a squirrel through the air and land safely on the ground," said attorney Mark Jay Heller.

Judge delays sentencing over ascot

MILWAUKEE , Jan. 9 (UPI) -- A Milwaukee County, Wis., judge delayed a sentencing hearing for three hours after a prosecutor arrived wearing an ascot in lieu of a neck or bow tie.

Milwaukee County Circuit Judge William Sosnay said the fashion choice made by veteran prosecutor Warren Zier "borders on contemptuous," after the judge previously warned that only neck and bow ties are appropriate for his court, the Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel reported Wednesday.

"This is not about the definition of an ascot or a necktie," Sosnay told a reporter inside the court. "This is an issue which I believe deals with the integrity of the court."

Zier said he has occasionally sported ascots "since the '70s, 1975 or '76."

He said the threat of possible contempt charges will not sway his future fashion decisions.

"I guess we'll deal with that if it gets to that point," Zier said.

Woman pleads guilty to dog tossing

FLINT, Mich., Jan. 9 (UPI) -- A Flint, Mich., woman has pleaded guilty to throwing her roommate's 9 1/2-pound dog from a second-story balcony after it bit her child.

Patricia Beardsley told the judge she "overreacted" Aug. 16 when she threw Sadie Mae, a 10-month old Pomeranian, from a second-story balcony after it nipped her 8-month-old daughter on the cheek, the Flint (Mich.) Journal reported Wednesday.

Beardsley was initially charged with killing or torturing an animal, a 4-year felony, and attempted killing/torturing an animal, a 2-year felony, but struck a bargain with the prosecution and pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit abandonment/cruelty to animals, a one-year misdemeanor.

The dog, which fell an estimated 30 feet to the ground, injured a hip joint near its left rear leg. Dr. Lucian Blajan, a veterinarian at Eascor Animal Hospital, said the animal underwent surgery and is expected to make a full recovery.

Beardsley is due to be sentenced Feb. 19.