ODDLY ENOUGH | Ohio church to give away $1,000 at Easter service

ODDLY ENOUGH

Ohio church to give away $1,000 at Easter service

HAMILTON, Ohio

An Ohio church that gave away $1,000 to fill more pews last Easter Sunday says it will do it again this year and on future Easters.

Lindenwald Baptist Church in Hamilton draws names to award $500 each to a member of the congregation and a guest.

Pastor Randy Moore says the southwest Ohio church had hoped for 1,000 worshippers last year, when it made the offer for the first time. It packed in 1,140 — more than double the usual Sunday attendance of around 500. Moore says a crew had to direct traffic in the parking lot.

Easter falls on April 24 this year. The pastor said given the economy, the church will continue the cash giveaway to provide a financial as well as a spiritual blessing on the holiday.

WWII machine gun found in Lithuanian mail

VILNIUS, Lithuania

Lithuanian customs and postal officials say they have found a fully functional machine gun dating from World War II, complete with ammunition, in a package at Vilnius International Airport.

Officials said Tuesday that the German-made MG-42 machine gun was found after scanning a suspicious 44-pound package posted in Lithuania and bound for Germany.

Customs spokeswoman Asta Mikeleviciute says it was the first time that customs authorities had ever uncovered such a parcel, and an investigation has been launched.

No evacuation of the capital’s airport was ordered, but authorities were placed on alert.

More than 65 years after the war, Lithuania and other East European countries continue to uncover large amounts of weaponry and unexploded ordnance.

Turtle sparks fast-moving blaze in NYC apartment

NEW YORK

Fire officials say a lumbering pet turtle sparked a fast-moving fire in a New York City apartment after crawling out of its tank and knocking over the terrarium’s heat lamp.

Giovani, a 6-year-old African tortoise about the size of a basketball, survived. But officials say one firefighter and three police officers suffered smoke inhalation in Monday’s fire in Bay Ridge, Brooklyn.

Another turtle that lived in a water tank was killed.

The New York Post says both reptiles resided in their owner’s bedroom. Eighteen-year-old Mohamed Salem and his family were not home at the time.

Fire officials say the heat lamp crashed to the floor, igniting a pile of art supplies, including thinner and paint. Within minutes, the Post reports, the fire spread through the third-floor apartment.

Associated Press