Watercooler Stories

Cinema complaint met with profane response

TAYLORS FALLS, Minn., Feb. 26 (UPI) -- A Minnesota woman said a Facebook group protesting her treatment by bosses at a Wisconsin movie theater has gained about 3,300 members.

Sarah Kohl-Leaf of Taylors Falls, Minn., said she sent an e-mail to St. Croix Falls Cinema 8 in St. Croix Falls, Wis., listing numerous complaints, including the theater's failure to accept credit or debit cards and the empty ATM in the lobby, the Minneapolis Star-Tribune reported.

The e-mail also complained about the distracting presence of ushers attempting to root out people who snuck into the theater while she was trying to enjoy "Shutter Island" with her husband Saturday night.

"I did not pay 18.00 to have a distracted experience," she wrote. "I would rather drive to White Bear Lake, where they obviously know how to run a theater than have this experience again."

Kohl-Leaf said the response she received the following morning from Steve Payne, vice president of theater owner Evergreen Entertainment LLC, was laced with profanity.

"Drive to White Bear Lake and also go ... yourself," Payne wrote, using a four-letter euphemism for fornication. "If you don't have money for entertainment, get a better job, and don't pay for everything on your credit or check card."

Kohl-Leaf said she posted the response to Facebook and a group calling for a boycott of the theater has grown to include 3,300 members, more than the population of St. Croix.

The Star-Tribune said it was unable to reach Payne for comment.

Man, 89, ordered to remove hat in store

CHICHESTER, England, Feb. 26 (UPI) -- An 89-year-old British man said he was outraged when employees at a store asked him to remove his flat cap because of security concerns.

Robert Broughton, 89, said he entered the One Stop convenience store in Chichester, England, to pick up milk and bread and he was told by workers that he would have to remove his hat because of a new store security policy, The Sun reported.

"I wasn't disguised, wearing glasses or a beard. My face was visible," Broughton said. "I've been in the shop more than 100 times. I couldn't believe they asked me to remove my cap.

"I was very angry. It's ridiculous to treat someone of my age in that way," he said.

A One Stop spokesman said all headgear was banned from the store following a recent incident involving a man in a hoodie.

"We are now obliged to ask those wearing hats to remove them. We can't positively discriminate on the grounds of age," he said.

City targets sunflower mural

HILLARD, Ohio, Feb. 26 (UPI) -- An Ohio woman said city officials are increasing pressure on her to remove the sunflower mural she painted on her home's garage.

Kelley Daniel said she was planning to appeal a citation from the city of Hillard for violating historic guidelines by using more than two colors not listed on the approved palette, but officials rescinded the citation and replaced it with a new list of violations including using colors that are not "compatible with those of the house," the Columbus (Ohio) Dispatch reported.

"We need you to support your community's zoning regulations and take the required corrective action," Mike Merz, an assistant zoning-enforcement officer, wrote in a letter to Daniel.

The letter said Daniel could face a fine of $150 per day if the mural is not removed by Monday.

Corruption defendant Twitters for money

DETROIT, Feb. 26 (UPI) -- A Michigan political consultant on trial for corruption is using the social networking site Twitter to try to drum up legal defense funds, his messages show.

The court-appointed lawyers for Sam Riddle were allowed Monday to withdraw from the case after a mistrial was declared in Riddle's trial for bribery and extortion, the Detroit Free Press reported.

"I need a little help so I can get a decent lawyer every little bit helps -thanks," Riddle tweeted, directing recipients to a Web site providing specific information on how to make donations.

U.S. District Judge Avern Cohn said Riddle has until Monday to find a lawyer or he will appoint one.

Sam Riddle sent the messages Wednesday.