oddly enough

oddly enough

Blind man hears, feels his way to mechanics degree

LAS CRUCES, N.M.

A blind New Mexico man who recently earned an auto-mechanics degree is looking for a job.

Clifford Alderson, 48, a graduate from a joint New Mexico State University-Dona Ana Community College program, earned his degree by listening and learning to feel his way around the vehicle, KOAT-TV reports.

Born with retinitis pigmentosa, a genetic disease that led to his blindness, Alderson got his on-the-job training at a small auto shop in Alamogordo and plans on making a career out of his talents.

His mother has the disease, as does his 15-year-old daughter, Lydia.

“When I graduated it didn’t feel like I graduated. I felt like I was in a dream,” said Alderson, who walks with a collapsible cane.

Damian Orchard, of All Makes Automotive, says, for the most part, he could just tell Alderson what needed to be done on a car, and Alderson takes care of the rest.

“A good majority of [the repairs], I could turn Cliff loose once I told him what we needed to do,” Orchard said.

Alderson has not landed a full-time job, but he says he’s optimistic.

Man tries to toss drug-filled football into Michigan prison

JACKSON, Mich.

Michigan authorities say a man tried to throw a football loaded with drugs and cellphones into the yard of a state prison.

According to state police Trooper Toby Baker, Sunday’s throw in Jackson came up short with the football landing between two fences and not in the yard where prisoners exercise.

An officer at the G. Robert Cotton Correctional Facility saw the man throw the football, and he was taken into custody.

The Detroit Free Press reported the ball contained heroin, marijuana, tobacco, three cellphones and chargers.

Arizona eatery shames art thieves on Facebook

FLAGSTAFF, Ariz.

Two accomplices in the theft of a painting at a Flagstaff restaurant have come forward after a shaming campaign on Facebook.

The Arizona Daily Sun reported Tuesday that Tyler Christensen, the owner of McMillan Bar and Kitchen, went to social media instead of police after the painting went missing June 9.

Christensen posted an open letter and surveillance photo of a man putting the painting in his backpack while the two accomplices acted as lookouts.

He said the two accomplices have since come forward and given $500 to cover the cost of the artwork.

Christensen’s Facebook post has been shared more than 7,900 times and received more than 4,300 likes and nearly 770 comments.

The artwork, however, was last seen hanging from a tree.

Associated Press