ODDLY ENOUGH

ODDLY ENOUGH

Giant Marilyn Monroe arrives at temporary new home

HAMILTON, N.J.

A larger-than-life sculpture of Marilyn Monroe has arrived safely in New Jersey after a cross-country trip by flatbed.

The 26-foot-tall “Forever Marilyn” by sculptor Seward Johnson was shipped in pieces from Palm Springs, Calif., to the Grounds for Sculpture, where it will go on view starting May 4.

The 17-ton stainless steel-and-aluminum sculpture depicts Monroe in her memorable billowing skirt pose from the 1955 movie “The Seven Year Itch.”

Its display will be part of an exhibit honoring its sculptor.

He also is the founder of the Grounds for Sculpture in Hamilton, just outside the state capital of Trenton.

The exhibit will end Sept. 21.

WWI artillery shells found in checked luggage at O’Hare

CHICAGO

Baggage screeners at Chicago’s O’Hare International Airport have discovered two World War I artillery shells in checked luggage that arrived on a flight from London.

The Transportation Security Administration says the bags belonged to a 16-year-old and a 17-year-old who were returning from a school field trip to Europe.

TSA spokesman Jim McKinney says a bomb-disposal crew determined the shells were inert and no one was ever in danger.

The teens told law enforcement they obtained the shells at a French World War I artillery range. It was not clear how.

TSA explosives experts believe they are French 75mm shells. They were seized Monday evening while the teens were transferring to a flight to Seattle.

The teens were questioned then allowed to travel onward. They weren’t charged.

Police: Burglary suspects accidentally pocket-dialed 911

MAPLEWOOD, Minn.

Two Minnesota burglary suspects have been arrested after police say one of them accidentally called 911 and left the line open as the pair discussed the crime.

Maplewood Police Chief Paul Schnell says the dispatcher got a call and hang-up, then another call that stayed open. The St. Paul Pioneer Press reports the dispatcher overheard a conversation about where police were.

Schnell says the calls were made April 1 using the phone’s emergency-call feature. The dispatcher saw the location was a car-repair shop.

Officers arrived to see two men leaving the building wearing dark clothing. One carried a TV, the other a box. The men dropped the objects and ran, but were caught by police dogs. Todd Weiss, 32, and Justin Evans, 38, are charged with third-degree burglary.

Associated Press