Sioux Falls, S.D. (AP) – A man who was fined $190 for allowing his pet snake to slither freely in a South Dakota park says he’s disturbed by an animal control officer’s suggestion that he restrain the reptile on a leash while in public. The Argus Leader reports that Jerry Kimball was ticketed for “animals running at large” last week after a woman complained that his Fire Bee Ball Python was roaming freely at Falls Park in Sioux Falls. Kimball says he was “dumbfounded” by the leash recommendation. Animal Control Supervisor Julie DeJong says a city ordinance requires all pets to be leashed or restrained in public and that pet snakes can be held or kept in a container to comply. Kimball says he plans to fight the ticket in court.
Oregon State Police help rescue 2 ducklings from storm drain
Salem, Ore. (AP) – To protect and serve and … rescue ducklings? An Oregon State Police trooper got some attention Monday after he helped pluck two ducklings from a storm drain where they were stranded over the weekend. The agency says in Twitter and Facebook postings that the mother duck and her 10 ducklings were crossing the street at an intersection in Salem Saturday when two ducklings were swept into the drain. City workers removed several storm grates and a manhole cover so the trooper could reach the ducklings with a net. State police say the other eight ducklings successfully navigated the drain pipe and emerged in a nearby canal. They were reunited with their mother and siblings and waddled away apparently unharmed.
Man fined over graffiti wedding proposal doesn’t regret it
Sheffield Lake, Ohio (AP) – A man who spray-painted a marriage proposal on an Ohio shopping center has been fined for criminal mischief and sentenced to community service but says he doesn’t regret it. After all, she said yes. The Chronicle-Telegram in Elyria (eh-LEER’-ee-uh) reports a magistrate in Sheffield Lake told 23-year-old Kyle Stump that the more traditional down-on-one-knee proposal might have been preferable. Stump says he thinks authorities overreacted. Stump pleaded no contest this week in mayor’s court in Sheffield Lake, about 20 miles (32 kilometers) west of Cleveland. He was ordered to pay over $300 in restitution for cleaning the wall, and his community service might include painting fire hydrants. The mayor says romantic gesture or not, it’s still a crime with a penalty.
Pennsylvania couple leave long letter as prank for postman
Lewisburg, Pa. (AP) – A Pennsylvania couple pranked their mailman on April Fools’ Day by leaving an extra-long letter sticking out of the mail slot on their front door. Bill Kelly and his wife used a piece of paper several feet long that they folded over to look like an envelope. They waited for the mailman to grab it from the mail slot and laughed as he pulled several feet of it from the door of their Lewisburg home on Saturday. The couple addressed it to “A.P. Rilfools” and, in case the postman didn’t figure it out right away, wrote “April Fools!” in big letters on the other end of the fake envelope. The couple posted several photos of the prank on Facebook and even posed with the letter and the grinning mailman.
Brazil love motel uses scandal as gimmick to draw customers
Sao Paulo (AP) – A so-called “love motel” in Brazil’s capital is using the country’s corruption scandal as a gimmick to draw customers. One of the suites at the Altana Motel in Brasilia features metal bars around the bed to put couples in the mood. If that’s not enough to make you feel naughty, it’s decorated with photos of politicians and businessmen charged in the alleged kickback scheme at state-owned oil company Petrobras. There are even pictures of prosecutors in charge of the probe, if do-gooders are your thing. Motel receptionist Claudia Leticia says about US$4,800 was spent to decorate the suite. Such motels are used almost exclusively for sexual encounters.
