LAWRENCEVILLE, Ga. (UPI) -- The mayor of Lawrenceville, Ga., said he has won a quarter of a million dollars from the Mega Millions lottery.
Rex Millsaps, 57, who works as an accountant in addition to his part-time mayoral duties, said his winnings will go toward his daughter's wedding and detailing his pickup truck, the Atlanta Journal-Constitution reported.
Millsaps said he will give the remaining money to his children and grandchildren.
The mayor said he checked the numbers from the drawing Saturday and called his wife to tell her he had matched the first five numbers of the winning combination.
"She didn't believe me," he said. "I ended up taking it back to the store, and the computer said to go immediately to the lottery office."
Millsaps, who said he plans to run for re-election in November, said his prize would have been $16 million if he had matched the Mega Ball number, 32. He said his ticket bore the number 34 in the Mega Ball category.
Copyright 2008 by United Press International
Tuesday, June 10, 2008
Monday, June 9, 2008
Police identify suspect by pants stains
POMPANO BEACH, Fla. (UPI) -- Authorities said they arrested a Pompano Beach, Fla., bank robbery suspect after he failed to change his pants following a dye pack explosion in his pocket.
The Broward County Sheriff's Office said Algernon James, 39, was arrested at a Fort Lauderdale, Fla., gas station after a tipster informed deputies of his location, the South Florida Sun-Sentinel reported.
Broward Sheriff's Detective Tony Hierrezuelo said James had disguised himself with fake dreadlocks under a multicolored cap, but he was still wearing pants stained from a dye pack explosion the day before.
James allegedly robbed a Pompano Beach bank Tuesday and shoved the stolen cash in his pocket, along with a dye pack that had been inserted with the loot. Authorities said the dye pack malfunctioned and failed to explode after the suspect left the bank, but it detonated about an hour later when James entered a Fort Lauderdale pawn shop that used a security system similar to that employed by the bank.
"He never said why he didn't change his pants," Hierrezuelo said.
Copyright 2008 by United Press International
The Broward County Sheriff's Office said Algernon James, 39, was arrested at a Fort Lauderdale, Fla., gas station after a tipster informed deputies of his location, the South Florida Sun-Sentinel reported.
Broward Sheriff's Detective Tony Hierrezuelo said James had disguised himself with fake dreadlocks under a multicolored cap, but he was still wearing pants stained from a dye pack explosion the day before.
James allegedly robbed a Pompano Beach bank Tuesday and shoved the stolen cash in his pocket, along with a dye pack that had been inserted with the loot. Authorities said the dye pack malfunctioned and failed to explode after the suspect left the bank, but it detonated about an hour later when James entered a Fort Lauderdale pawn shop that used a security system similar to that employed by the bank.
"He never said why he didn't change his pants," Hierrezuelo said.
Copyright 2008 by United Press International
Friday, June 6, 2008
Typo on diplomas embarrasses Ohio principal
WESTLAKE, Ohio (AP) - A Cleveland-area principal says he's embarrassed his students got proof of their "educaiton" on their high school diplomas.
Westlake High School officials misspelled "education" on the diplomas distributed last weekend. It's been the subject of mockery on local radio.
Principal Timothy Freeman says he sent back the diplomas once to correct another error. When the diplomas came back, no one bothered to check things they thought were right the first time.
The publisher has reprinted the diplomas a second time and sent them to the 330 graduates.
Westlake High School officials misspelled "education" on the diplomas distributed last weekend. It's been the subject of mockery on local radio.
Principal Timothy Freeman says he sent back the diplomas once to correct another error. When the diplomas came back, no one bothered to check things they thought were right the first time.
The publisher has reprinted the diplomas a second time and sent them to the 330 graduates.
Thursday, June 5, 2008
Texas woman wins a free funeral at baseball game
GRAND PRAIRIE, Texas (AP) - Elaine Fulps is thrilled about the prize she won at a minor league baseball game. But she's hoping she doesn't have to collect on it anytime soon. Fulps, 60, won a $10,000 paid funeral at Tuesday night's Grand Prairie AirHogs game.
The prize won't expire until after Fulps does, said Ron Alexander, the sales manager at Oak Grove Memorial Gardens, which partnered with the team and Irving's Chapel of Roses Funeral Home to sponsor the event.
"I almost croaked many times," said Fulps, who was wearing a neck brace - the most recent effect of about 20 surgeries she's undergone for various medical problems. "God still has me around for a reason. To win a funeral."
Fans in this Dallas suburb were eager to join in the grim fun.
Some finalists for the prize arrived dressed in black or looking like death. The finalists participated in a pallbearer's race, a mummy wrap and a eulogy delivery.
Fulps, randomly chosen as the winner at night's end, said she'll choose a casket and plot as soon as she recovers.
"I'm going to pick a spot under a tree out of the Texas heat," she told The Dallas Morning News. "And let's hope it's a pet-free cemetery. I don't want to get watered on."
The prize won't expire until after Fulps does, said Ron Alexander, the sales manager at Oak Grove Memorial Gardens, which partnered with the team and Irving's Chapel of Roses Funeral Home to sponsor the event.
"I almost croaked many times," said Fulps, who was wearing a neck brace - the most recent effect of about 20 surgeries she's undergone for various medical problems. "God still has me around for a reason. To win a funeral."
Fans in this Dallas suburb were eager to join in the grim fun.
Some finalists for the prize arrived dressed in black or looking like death. The finalists participated in a pallbearer's race, a mummy wrap and a eulogy delivery.
Fulps, randomly chosen as the winner at night's end, said she'll choose a casket and plot as soon as she recovers.
"I'm going to pick a spot under a tree out of the Texas heat," she told The Dallas Morning News. "And let's hope it's a pet-free cemetery. I don't want to get watered on."
Wednesday, June 4, 2008
Man, 71, and friend in wheelchair subdue suspect
KINGSTON, Pa. (AP) - The young woman probably thought the 71-year-old veteran, whose friend was in a wheelchair, would make an easy target. She was wrong. Harry Kopenis chased and tackled the 22-year-old woman he says robbed him at an ATM in northeastern Pennsylvania. Then, with help from his friend in a wheelchair, he held her until police arrived.
"Maybe she thought I was easy prey. She didn't think I was going to get her. Well, senior citizens aren't easy prey," Kopenis said.
Police charged Erin Vanmatre, of Kingston, with robbery, harassment and other offenses. Vanmatre, who was on probation for conspiracy to commit theft, was locked up on $10,000 bail. It wasn't clear if she had an attorney.
Kopenis said he's not sure how he was able to catch Vanmatre, considering he suffered a stroke five years ago and is on various prescription medications. He pointed to the sky and said, "It was a source up there who gave me the energy."
He had gone to an ATM near his Kingston home Monday morning and withdrew $100 when Vanmatre allegedly knocked him down, took his money and fled.
Kopenis' friend, Kevin Lamb, was nearby in his electric wheelchair. Both men took off after her. Kopenis got her to the ground and Lamb grabbed her leg.
"She wasn't going anyplace then," said Lamb, 56, who uses the wheelchair due to breathing problems.
Kopenis said he thought about not pressing charges, but she continued to resist and gave him a kick to the leg.
The men weren't seriously injured.
Tuesday, June 3, 2008
Party trashes $8.8 million home
MARBELLA, Spain (UPI) -- A woman says her $8.8 million home in Marbella, Spain, was trashed by 400 revelers who showed up for a party her daughter advertised on the Internet.
Amanda Hudson said she gave her daughter, Jodie, permission to throw her 16th birthday party at the house, but she lost control of the shindig after hundreds of people showed up to party, the Daily Mail reported Thursday.
Jodie Hudson had sent out word about her birthday bash on social networking sites Facebook and Bebo as the "party of the year," the British newspaper reported. The advertisements, which included the address of the house, promised "there's going be a lot of alcohol and an amazing DJ."
Hudson said $12,000 worth of jewelry and multiple clothing items were stolen during the party. Other items, including a TV, were thrown into the house's pool.
She said the house is usually rented out for $8,000 a week during the summer, but the damage done by the party has made the residence unlivable.
Copyright 2008 by United Press International
Amanda Hudson said she gave her daughter, Jodie, permission to throw her 16th birthday party at the house, but she lost control of the shindig after hundreds of people showed up to party, the Daily Mail reported Thursday.
Jodie Hudson had sent out word about her birthday bash on social networking sites Facebook and Bebo as the "party of the year," the British newspaper reported. The advertisements, which included the address of the house, promised "there's going be a lot of alcohol and an amazing DJ."
Hudson said $12,000 worth of jewelry and multiple clothing items were stolen during the party. Other items, including a TV, were thrown into the house's pool.
She said the house is usually rented out for $8,000 a week during the summer, but the damage done by the party has made the residence unlivable.
Copyright 2008 by United Press International
Monday, June 2, 2008
Suspect's getaway foiled
ALBUQUERQUE (UPI) -- Authorities in Albuquerque said a burglary suspect who fled the home of a sheriff's sergeant was arrested after a panhandler saw his car and dialed 911.
Investigators said the suspect, Joseph Ballejos, 35, fled the sergeant's home in an SUV after the officer arrived home at 3 p.m. Tuesday, KRQE-TV, Albuquerque, reported Wednesday.
"(The sergeant) turned around and tried to stop the car: the car didn't stop, fled from the scene," sheriff's Sgt. Van Eldredge said. "The sergeant was concerned someone else might still back in his house, so he returned to his house."
Panhandler Jeffery McKnight said he called 911 after he saw the suspect first drive the wrong way on an Interstate 25 off ramp and then drive off the road. Deputies arrived in the area and arrested the suspect.
Copyright 2008 by United Press International
Investigators said the suspect, Joseph Ballejos, 35, fled the sergeant's home in an SUV after the officer arrived home at 3 p.m. Tuesday, KRQE-TV, Albuquerque, reported Wednesday.
"(The sergeant) turned around and tried to stop the car: the car didn't stop, fled from the scene," sheriff's Sgt. Van Eldredge said. "The sergeant was concerned someone else might still back in his house, so he returned to his house."
Panhandler Jeffery McKnight said he called 911 after he saw the suspect first drive the wrong way on an Interstate 25 off ramp and then drive off the road. Deputies arrived in the area and arrested the suspect.
Copyright 2008 by United Press International
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