Watercooler Stories

Demolition delayed due to cats

SOUTH BEACH, Fla., Aug. 12 (UPI) -- Neighbors of an abandoned Florida condo building said the Wednesday demolition was postponed due to cats living inside the facility.

Danielle Crocker, who led the effort to delay the demolition of the South Beach building, said she and other volunteers contacted the building's owner, TD Bank, and contractor ASC Inc., but they did not make any headway until Miami-Dade County got involved in the situation, WPLG-TV, Miami, reported.

"The property is supposed to contact us if there are living animals inside. They never did," said officer Levare Baker of Miami-Dade Animal Services.

Contractors were clearing cats from the property Wednesday and they said a professional trapper will likely be brought in during the weekend to round up the remaining felines.

The demolition was tentatively rescheduled for Aug. 16.

18 months for restaurant seizure faker

BALTIMORE, Aug. 12 (UPI) -- A Baltimore man who admitted faking seizures to get out of paying several restaurant tabs was sentenced to 18 months in jail.

Andrew Palmer, 43, pleaded guilty to one count of theft scheme was sentenced to 18 months in jail after prosecutors said he faked seizures to get out of paying for food between April 26 and July 21 at restaurants including Capital Grille, Burke's Cafe, Ding How Restaurant, Maisy's Restaurant, and Borinken Bar and Restaurant, The Baltimore Sun reported.

Prosecutors said medical personnel were called to the scene in each case.

The Maryland judiciary case search Web site revealed Palmer has been charged with crimes 89 times, including 34 resulting in convictions for charges including "eating in a public place without paying" and "refusing to pay taxi cab fare."

Man seeks name change to 'Boomer the Dog'

GREEN TREE, Pa., Aug. 12 (UPI) -- A suburban Pittsburgh man who dresses as a canine for conventions and parties is asking a judge to let him change his legal name to Boomer the Dog.

Gary Guy Mathews, 44, of Green Tree, told Allegheny County Common Pleas Court Judge Robert Folino during Tuesday's hearing that he is involved with "furries," a movement of people who dress in animal costumes that has an annual convention in Pittsburgh, the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reported.

Mathews told the judge his name and costume are based on the main character from "Here's Boomer," a short-lived NBC series about a stray mutt that rescues humans from danger.

Mathews said many of his friends already call him Boomer and his parents had even warmed to the moniker before they died.

Folino, whose ruling is due this week, said he may reject the request if he determines it "causes confusion in the community" or raises the "likelihood of unintended consequences."

Fastest Minnesota speeder: 178 mph

MENAHGA, Minn., Aug. 12 (UPI) -- Police in Minnesota said a Corvette traveling 178 mph on a county road was the fastest vehicle pulled over during a statewide speeding sweep.

Wadena County sheriff's deputies said the red Corvette was stopped July 9 in the town of Menahga, the Minneapolis Star-Tribune reported.

"He wasn't actually clocked, but the passenger reported the speed -- my guess is she was pretty freaked out," said Nathan Bowie, a Department of Public Safety spokesman.

The driver was not identified.

The state's law enforcement agencies said the motorist was one of 26 ticketed during the monthlong sweep while driving faster than 100 mph, while an additional 227 were ticketed for driving between 90 mph and 100 mph.

A total of 27,639 speeding tickets were issued in Minnesota during the month of July.