ODDLY ENOUGH

ODDLY ENOUGH

Giant Christmas tree snaps during hoisting at Macy’s

ATLANTA

It’s the Drought That Stole Christmas.

Macy’s at Atlanta’s Lenox Mall must cut down a new Christmas tree after the 60-foot white pine selected for the holidays snapped while being hoisted atop the department store Sunday morning.

Melissa Goff with Macy’s said the store usually selects its tree from a Georgia forest, but drought conditions have made it difficult to find a healthy tree this year.

She said the 11,000-pound tree was from Douglas County.

She said a backup tree has been selected and will be brought in this week.

The tree will be decorated between now and Thanksgiving Day, when the store will have a lighting ceremony, a 63-year tradition.

It’s not the first time the store has had to get a backup tree: The 2004 tree also broke.

Cuomo’s ‘I am the government’ quote becomes a ringtone

ALBANY, N.Y.

A recent soundbite from New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo that’s become a hit on Twittter is getting extra mileage as a ringtone.

In a radio interview Wednesday, the Democratic governor said, “I am the government.”

His comment quickly made the rounds on Twitter, a ringtone was set up, and the New York Daily News pictured Cuomo in a wig as France’s Louis XIV, who famously said, “I am the state.”

Cuomo didn’t appear to be boasting, however, in his comment on WGDJ-AM in Albany.

He was explaining how his poll numbers reflect New Yorkers’ renewed faith and confidence in government.

Cuomo quickly added that he was referring just to the executive branch of state government.

His office didn’t immediately respond to a request to comment last week.

NC town with no candidates counts write-in votes

TAR HEEL, N.C.

One North Carolina town won’t let a lack of candidates stand in the way of democracy.

Voters in the Bladen County town of Tar Heel cast their ballots last week.

All of the election’s votes were write-in votes because no one registered to run for office.

The rural town of about 117 residents has four part-time elected positions.

Bladen County Board of Elections officials say there were clear winners in all the races, with about 10 names being written in by voters.

Officials now have to make sure that the top vote-getters live inside town limits and are willing to accept the jobs.

Associated Press