Black bear wandered into hotel that inspired ‘The Shining’
Estes Park, Colo. (AP) – A black bear wandered the lobby of the Colorado hotel that inspired Stephen King to write “The Shining.” Stanley Hotel Vice President Reed Rowley tells KDVR-TV that 300 guests were sound asleep as the bruin figured out how to open the door and climbed over furniture. A front desk supervisor captured video of the romp. There was no damage, but the furniture got rearranged before the bear walked out of the lower level door. The hotel in Estes Park opened in 1909. It is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. King wrote “The Shining” after he and his wife stayed at The Stanley in 1974. The 1980 horror film was not shot there.
Cliff house: Unique Swiss restaurant looks for new tenants
Berlin (AP) – One of Switzerland’s most picturesque restaurants will soon be looking for a new operator. The Gasthaus Aescher, built into a cliff above a valley in northeastern Switzerland, has been run by the same family since 1987. It gained recognition outside the Alpine nation when it was featured on the cover of a National Geographic book of “destinations of a lifetime” in 2016. Authorities in Appenzell Innerrhoden canton (state) said Monday that the current tenants, Nicole and Bernhard Knechtle-Fritsche, are giving up the lease at the end of the 2018 season. The restaurant opens from May until the beginning of November.
Coast Guard offering reward for info on buoy bell thieves
Portland, Maine (AP) – The Coast Guard is offering a reward for information about brass gongs and bells that have been stolen from 10 buoys off of Maine’s coast. The Coast Guard says nine bells were stolen from Penobscot Bay, and one was stolen off Bailey Island in Harpswell. The bell assembly stolen from the White Bull Gong buoy off Bailey Island weighed 371 pounds. The sounding devices help boats navigate when there is poor visibility, and the Coast Guard says they are most likely being sold to nautical novelty stores or scrap yards. Coast Guard Lt. Matthew Odom previously said the thefts put lives at risk and cost taxpayers. Tampering with navigation aids is a federal crime, punishable by up to $25,000 per day.
Novelty hand grenades found in checked luggage at airport
Newark, N.J. (AP) – Authorities say two suspected hand grenades found in a woman’s checked bag at Newark Liberty International Airport were actually novelty bottle openers. Transportation Security Administration officials say the realistic looking replicas were found Tuesday. The woman eventually was allowed to board her flight, but her luggage didn’t make it on the plane due to the delay at the screening area. The woman’s name and the airline she was flying were not disclosed. Officials say the bottoms of the fake hand grenades are hollowed out so they can be used as bottle openers. They note that the items come with a warning notice that tells travelers not to bring them into airports because they can look real to screeners using X-ray machines to scan luggage.
Mom who hosted elaborate $25k prom send-off accused of fraud
Philadelphia (AP) – A Philadelphia woman who made headlines for an elaborate prom send-off has been charged with Social Security benefits fraud. The U.S. attorney’s office in Philadelphia announced charges of wire fraud, theft of government funds and Social Security fraud Tuesday against 44-year-old Saudia Shuler. Prosecutors say that Shuler applied for benefits, describing herself as disabled and unable to work, but continued working – including operating a restaurant – costing the government more than $36,000. Shuler threw a $25,000 Dubai-themed prom party for her son last year. This year, she threw a “Black Panther”-themed prom send-off with an actual panther for neighborhood kids. She said the party cost was in the six figures. Defense attorney Tariq el Shabazz told WPVI-TV Shuler suffered a stroke, was in rehab and couldn’t do anything for two-plus years.
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