ODDLY ENOUGH

ODDLY ENOUGH

Billboard company opposing Pittsburgh council’s tax plan

PITTSBURGH

A nationally known billboard firm is turning to — what else? — its billboards to speak out against a Pittsburgh City Council plan to tax the message board.

Lamar Advertising of Baton Rouge, La., is targeting the council members who are proposing the 10-percent tax, Natalia Rudiak and Darlene Harris. One billboard lambasting Rudiak says, “Worst Economy In 50 Years. Natalia Rudiak Says: Let’s raise taxes.”

The company’s attorney, Jonathan Kamin, says Lamar paid more than $60,000 in permit fees for its billboards last year, not to mention real-estate taxes and donates free ad space to nonprofits.

The council members, however, are getting a kick out of the ads.

Rudiak almost drove off the road laughing at one sign targeting her and says, “Politicians all want free advertising. Thanks, Lamar.”

Goats released on NC high school football field

SHELBY, N.C.

A small herd of goats caused plenty of problems for a North Carolina high school hoping to play a home football game on senior night.

The Shelby Star reports that nearly a dozenSFlbgoats were released in the Burns High School stadium in Cleveland County last Thursday night or Friday morning. School officials say the goats caused enough of a mess to force the game against Rutherfordton-Spindale Central to be moved.

The prank raised concern because of a recent outbreak of E. coli cases associated with the Cleveland County Fair west of Charlotte this month. Burns Athletic Director Eddy Taylor said health department officials came to the school and told them the game would have to be moved.

Other activities scheduled at Burns on Friday also had to be moved.

Police: Sword used to break up fight on Arizona light rail

TEMPE, Ariz.

Police say an unidentified man used a Samurai sword in order to stop a fight on the light rail in Arizona.

KSAZ-TV reported that the man pulled out his weapon when the fight started Saturday.

Passenger Juan Vargas says passengers all got quiet when the man pulled out the sword to break up the would-be brawl.

Vargas says he took a video of the sword-wielding man and posted it on You Tube.

Valley Metro and Phoenix Police are investigating the case but no arrests have been made.

Valley Metro officials say they have increased security during their late-night service.

Associated Press