oddly enough

oddly enough

Pa. election tie broken with ‘low’ number drawing

HOLLIDAYSBURG, Pa.

It wasn’t a golf match, but the man with the lowest number won.

Democrat Joseph Claar and Republican incumbent Edward Helsel were tied with 221 votes apiece after recounts in the Nov. 8 election for Greenfield Township supervisor in central Pennsylvania.

So both candidates met with Blair County elections officials Monday. Each picked one of several sealed envelopes containing a sheet with a number on it — with the understanding that the low number would win.

The Altoona Mirror reports that Helsel drew a “12” and Claar drew an “8.”

Helsel had been a supervisor almost continuously since 1988. He didn’t quibble with the tie-breaker, saying, “It’s been done this way for years. If it isn’t broken, don’t fix it.”

Moonshine still discovered in Massachusetts water plant

GROTON, Mass.

A more-intoxicating drink than water apparently was being produced at a Massachusetts town’s water-treatment plant.

A town official in Groton says a water-department employee set up a still and was making moonshine on town property.

Town Manager Mark Haddad tells The Sun of Lowell that “distilling apparatus” was discovered earlier this month inside the Baddacook Water Treatment Plant. The employee was placed on paid administrative leave and later decided to retire.

Haddad did not disclose the former worker’s name. He says the distilling equipment has been confiscated by police.

Police would not say whether they are investigating.

Selectman Peter Cunningham says the still simply was someone’s “hobby,” and there is no evidence the employee was drinking on the job.

Associated Press