An Arctic seal was captured after eluding marine officials in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, for several days. Rescuers used two nets on Monday to remove the 1.8m, 113.4kg bearded seal from a canal in a residential area. It was placed in a marine animal ambulance and prepped for a trip to SeaWorld where scientists planned to rehabilitate the lethargic animal and release it back to the North Pole. “This is the first time we have had a bearded seal show up in Florida,” said Kim Amendola, a spokeswoman for the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. “Their primary habitat is north of Newfoundland.”
■ UNITED STATES
Blind man isn’t fooled
Don’t try to dupe Kent Parker just because he is blind and operates a deli in the Hamilton County Courthouse in Cincinnati. Every once in a while, somebody tries to cheat him despite the security cameras trained on the cash register and about a dozen sheriff’s deputies a few steps away. In the past two weeks, two women offered bills smaller than they claimed and were arrested within minutes. “I have a lot of friends who watch out for me,” said Parker, 43, who has been operating the Courthouse Deli for eight years. Sometimes Parker can tell if a customer is acting suspiciously. “They test me, hand me money, seeing if I know what it is,” he said.
■ UNITED STATES
Wallet found decades later
Glenn Goodlove said he was likely kissing a girl in the expansive back seat of the 1946 Hudson automobile when his wallet slipped from his pants pocket more than five decades ago. The year was 1952. Goodlove was a sailor home on leave from the US Navy. The Hudson belonged to his grandfather, who lived in western Washington state. Goodlove had long since forgotten about the lost leather billfold, until last month when he got a phone call from a pair of southern Idaho car collectors who told him they had restored the car and found the wallet. Inside the wallet were a US$10 bill, a US$1 silver certificate banknote, military identification, a Social Security card and a handwritten Washington state driver’s license.
■ UNITED STATES
Kids rob day care center
What would be the best prize ever if you were a child burglar? How about milk, popsicles, paper, crayons and Play-Doh? That is what police say a pair of boys took during two break-ins at a Milwaukee day care center. An eight-year-old and 10-year-old broke into Day Care Services for Children, Inc on Sunday. A witness photographed the eight-year-old and 10-year-old breaking a window and leaving with two large bags at around 4:30pm on Sunday, Schwartz said. The boys also set off the day care’s alarm, she said. They allegedly grabbed paper, crayons and Play-Doh.
■ UNITED STATES
Family bicker over dog
A Memphis, Tennessee, man who didn’t have a will left a US$2 million estate, but the most hotly contested item in court has been his golden retriever, Alex. The four-way dispute over the 13-year-old pet was so intense, an attorney was appointed to represent the dog’s interest. On Monday, the judge decided the man’s divorced parents should split custody, the Commercial Appeal reported. “At first glance, the petition seems almost frivolous, but after speaking with all parties, it is evident that this is a highly emotional issue for all involved,” said Alex’s attorney, Paul Royal.
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