ODDLY ENOUGH

ODDLY ENOUGH

Chicago looking for goats to graze at O’Hare airport

CHICAGO

The Chicago Department of Aviation is looking for a few good goats.

WFLD-TV reported that Chicago recently put out a bid for someone to supply goats to trim the grass at O’Hare International Airport. The bid also calls for a goat herder.

Amy Malick is the department’s point person for sustainability, and she says the city is looking at a pilot program of 30 goats to eat grass and weeds in one, hard-to-mow area.

She says the area is outside the security fence, so there’s no danger of goats straying onto the runways.

Malick adds that the department also worries about pollution produced by mechanical mowers, so they’re turning to the four-legged variety.

Atlanta recently started a similar effort, and San Francisco has been using goats for years.

Judge marries couple after sentencing groom to prison

OKLAHOMA CITY

Talk about the old ball and chain.

A judge sentenced an Oklahoma man to four years in federal prison on a firearm charge — then minutes later performed a marriage ceremony to wed the new inmate and his longtime girlfriend.

Thursday was a busy day for Larry Austin and Dustie Trojack. First, they obtained their marriage license, then Austin pleaded guilty to the firearm charge and was sentenced by Oklahoma County Judge Jerry Bass.

Shortly afterward, Bass married the happy couple, who kissed before federal authorities whisked Austin away.

Austin’s attorney, Scott M. Anderson, tells The Oklahoman that Austin had helped to raise Trojack’s two sons, and he didn’t want to lose contact with them while he was serving time.

Great Dane from Michigan is the world’s tallest dog

OTSEGO, Mich.

A Great Dane from Michigan is doggone tall.

The Guinness World Records 2013 book published Thursday recognizes Zeus of Otsego, Mich., as the world’s Tallest Dog.

The 3-year-old measures 44 inches from foot to shoulder.

Standing on his hind legs, Zeus stretches to 7-foot-4 and towers over his owner, Denise Doorlag. Zeus is just an inch taller than the previous record-holder, Giant George.

Zeus weighs 155 pounds and eats a 30-pound bag of food every two weeks.

Doorlag says she had to get a van to be able to transport Zeus.

Associated Press