ODDLY ENOUGH

ODDLY ENOUGH

Yells for ‘Daddy’ close to school yield a surprising find

FAIRFIELD, Conn.

Police say a Connecticut woman became concerned when she heard someone calling “Daddy” repeatedly near a school. But when she began looking for a child, she instead found a large green parrot up in a tree.

Fairfield police Lt. James Perez says the fire department used a long pole to remove the bird from the tree at Holland Hill School recently. The parrot then flew onto a bamboo stand.

Firefighters chased it out and an animal control officer caught it in a net and brought it to a shelter.

Perez says the bird was talking nonstop saying, “Daddy,” “hello,” “What!” and other words.

The bird was found about a mile from its home. It was later reunited with its owner, who had reported it missing.

Police shoot steer running loose

BALTIMORE

Friday the 13th was an unlucky day for one wayward steer. Baltimore police shot and killed the steer, which had escaped from a city slaughterhouse on a downtown street, a spokeswoman said.

The animal was shot shortly after 10:15 a.m., and police confirmed it escaped from the George G. Ruppersberger and Sons Inc. slaughterhouse in west Baltimore.

Sgt. Sarah Connolly said police received calls from business owners concerned about the animal running loose. The neighborhood is home to numerous bars, restaurants and shops.

The animal was “increasingly aggressive,” and officers made several attempts to trap it before killing it, police said on the department’s Facebook page.

The carcass was hauled away by representatives of a company that recycles restaurant grease and animal byproducts.

Priest baffled by vestment theft

GARDNER, Mass.

A Massachusetts priest says he’s baffled by a recent theft from his church in which the only things taken were priestly vestments and other nearly valueless items.

WBZ-TV reported that no money, no religious artifacts and nothing of major value was taken in the theft from St. Joseph Roman Catholic Church in Gardner.

Police arrested three 22-year-old city men after someone reported seeing someone wearing the vestments inside an abandoned building. They’re charged with receiving stolen property and breaking and entering.

The Rev. Thomas Tokarz says he forgives the men, but still wants to know why they took what they did.

Police say they have a motive, but are not making it public until they finish the investigation. They do say the motive was not anti-religious.

The church’s property has been returned.

Associated Press