ODDLY ENOUGH

ODDLY ENOUGH

Houston Zoo cheetahs get a workout at horse track

HOUSTON

Two cheetahs from the Houston Zoo usually confined to cages have been allowed to run through part of a horse track when the regular racers weren’t around.

The 5-year-old male siblings named Kito and Kiburi were allowed to roam this month at a grassy fenced part of Sam Houston Race Park in Houston.

The Houston Chronicle reported Sunday that the zoo officials, starting in August, took the big cats to the park twice on leashes. Curator Beth Schaefer says the cheetahs were calm and with their regular trainers.

In early November, the cheetahs were allowed off their leashes at the race park, with no problems. The second off-leash excursion was Dec. 11 but will be the last for a while.

Horses return to Sam Houston Race Park next week.

‘Secret Santa’ gives away $200 at western Pa. mall

INDIANA, Pa.

A “secret Santa” surprised two shoppers with $100 each in swiftly delivered Christmas cards at a western Pennsylvania mall.

The Indiana Gazette reported Wednesday that both incidents happened at the Indiana Mall, about 45 miles northeast of Pittsburgh.

Brenda Shirley says she and her husband, Tim, were at the mall about 9:45 p.m. Friday when a woman handed them a card with the words “open me” written on it. Inside was $100.

Dave Brozick, of Blairsville, says he had a similar experience, also Friday, when a woman dropped another “open me” card in his lap. It also contained $100.

Brozick and the Shirleys both say the woman left before they could thank her.

Brenda Shirley says the lady “came out of nowhere ... we looked up and she was gone.”

Job and a party as hospital hires 1,000th employee

GRAND RAPIDS, Mich.

Cake, applause, a red carpet — not a typical first day at work.

It turns out that Ashley Wharton isn’t your typical physician’s assistant. A Grand Rapids hospital celebrated her arrival Monday because she’s the 1,000th employee.

Mary Free Bed Rehabilitation Hospital has added 267 workers since summer 2011, a 36 percent increase, after deciding to remain independent and not merge with another hospital.

The Grand Rapids Press said Wharton was a bit overwhelmed by all the fuss. She will work in the admissions department, evaluating new patients and helping others leave the hospital.

Associated Press