ODDLY ENOUGH

ODDLY ENOUGH

Woman parlays sister’s $1 investment into $5,500 payout

SANTA FE, N.M.

A Santa Fe woman has parlayed her sister’s $1 investment in an old ammunition box into a $5,500 payout.

Marlene Arsola received the check last week from the U.S. Department of the Treasury.

She tells the Albuquerque Journal that her sister bought a couple of metal ammunition boxes for $1 each at an auction about eight years ago.

One box was empty but the other had shredded currency.

Arsola’s sister took the bills that were partially intact to the bank and received $400 to $500 for them. She turned over the smaller shreds to Arsola, who enjoys doing puzzles.

She didn’t put the pieces together but eventually contacted the Treasury Department about the mutilated money.

She discovered the check in her mail Thursday.

Thousands dress as Santa, hit streets for naughty fun

NEW YORK

Thousands of men and women in Santa suits took to the streets of New York City to bring some good cheer, be a little naughty and donate food for Hurricane Sandy victims.

Saturday marked the annual SantaCon in Manhattan, an all-day party in which carousing Santas and companions in reindeer and elf costumes move from bar to bar singing, acting silly and sometimes drinking to excess.

Participants are also asked to donate at least two nonperishable food items.

Last year, the New York City event raised $10,000 for the Toys for Tots program, a fact advertised on the event’s website with the notation that, “Your drinking helps kids.”

There were SantaCon stops planned for dozens of bars in Manhattan and Brooklyn.

Emu joins man on a jog, is reunited with owner

VIRGINIA BEACH, Va.

A man in Virginia Beach picked up an unusual jogging partner when an emu began following him.

Animal-shelter supervisor Wayne Gilbert says Virginia Beach residents contacted the city after the emu showed up Thursday alongside the jogger in the Highgate Green neighborhood.

It turns out that the bird had merely drifted away from its home.

Emus are legal to own in the area. Gilbert tells news media outlets that animal control officers located the bird, which was returned to its owner.

Associated Press