Archive for February, 2009

“You found a WHAT in WHERE?”

Friday, February 27th, 2009

“You found a WHAT in WHERE?”

That’s the first thing one official said when she heard what someone has been dumping into the sewer system in Urbana, Ill.

It’s gross. And very, very strange.

Student “ice jockeys” may get their wish

Thursday, February 26th, 2009

Three University of Wisconsin students, cleverly dubbed “ice jockeys” by their campus paper, may just have their day in court.

Emergency responsers in Eau Claire, Wisc., pulled the three UW – Eau Claire students off the floating chunk of ice on Feb. 13.

The students were not amused, but neither were police.

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Whatever you do, don’t miss

Thursday, February 26th, 2009

A Sioux City police officer was recently dispatched to perform an unenviable task.

According to the police log, an officer was sent Monday morning to the 2100 block of 28th Street.

Why? Animal control officers had a furry, black-and-white-striped surprise.

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Officers shoot, kill chimp after mauling

Monday, February 16th, 2009

Connecticut police shot and killed Travis, a pet chimpanzee, on Monday after he attacked and seriously injured his owner’s friend.

His owner had tried to defend her friend with a butcher knife, but police shot the chimp when he tried to get into a squad car.

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Students plucked from river iceberg say fines not fair

Monday, February 16th, 2009

Three University of Wisconsin students have been slapped with disorderly conduct fines after firefighters rescued them from a floating chunk of ice.

Television station WEAU is reporting that the students, who attended the Eau Claire campus, were spotted by a police officer as they went for a 2 a.m. joy ride on the ice down the Chippewa River.

Police called the fire department, who went and basically rescued the students against their will.

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Solace elusive for broken-hearted family

Saturday, February 14th, 2009

When Ed and Lucinda Hulit came to the Sioux City Journal early last year for an interview, I had never seen two people so devastated.They cried as they sat at the table in one of our small conference rooms, at a loss to understand why their daughter had to die or how they were supposed to go on living.

It had only been a few months since Raina, 15, had been found shot to death.

Matthew Hettinger, 24, was accused of shooting her in his basement.

When we spoke again a few weeks ago in advance of Hettinger’s trial, the pain and grief hadn’t lessened. They hoped sending him to prison for life would help, but on Friday he took a plea deal that sends him to prison for up to 45 years.

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Tasered man declares “You can’t hurt me!”

Saturday, February 14th, 2009

Journal political reporter Bret Hayworth found this gem about a guy who Des Moines police officers zapped twice with a Taser while trying to arrest him.

He wasn’t hurt, though. At least that’s what he told paramedics. The Des Moines Register has his reason for why he can’t be hurt, which is one of the best lines ever.

Valentine’s special: Man shows motorists some…love

Saturday, February 14th, 2009

Several people driving near the southwest Iowa city of Mount Pleasant reported they were subjected to an unwanted display.Seems like a man has decided to take flashing to the highway.

A local television station is reporting police are looking for a man who flashes people as he passes them on the highway. 

The Valentine’s flasher may have a sense of timing, but he had far to go before he reaches the level of infamy of the “Butt Bandit” who left greasy cheekprints on storefront windows in Valentine, Neb.  (more…)

Local man says he peeped on “at least” 100 female hotel guests

Tuesday, February 10th, 2009

A Sioux City man was arrested today for allegedly spying at women while they were in the bathroom at a local hotel.

Robert Campbell, 51, allegedly watched women through holes cut or torn in the filters covering vents to bathrooms in the hotel’s guest rooms. He was arrested Tuesday on one misdemeanor charge of invasion of privacy.

But Campbell didn’t just spy on any woman who walked in the door.

No, he had standards.

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Somebody in the Catholic church has a sense of humor

Friday, February 6th, 2009

While browsing through the Diocese of Sioux Falls pastoral plan I stumbled upon a bit of church humor.

The plan is quite thorough, but is not filled with the most uplifting news. However, its writer(s) did manage to work in a joke.

At least I think it was a joke.

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