Oddly enough

Oddly enough

Washington crews try to oust persistent beaver

PORT ORCHARD, Wash.

A road crew in Washington state has had it with a beaver that persists in building a dam under a bridge.

Crews have removed a beaver dam three times since August. Each time, the beaver rebuilds it near Port Orchard, on the west side of Puget Sound, across from Seattle. One was as large as 40 feet long and 3 feet high.

Kitsap County Roads Superintendent Jacques Dean told KOMO that he appreciates how industrious the animals are, but the water threatens to undermine bridge abutments. The county decided to spend $15,000 to hire a beaver trapper.

Union chief: Irish army running short of uniforms

DUBLIN

Legend has it that Celtic warriors once charged into battle naked. Things aren’t that bad in the modern Irish army, but its union chief said soldiers must wage a daily battle for uniforms.

Mark Scally said the difficulty of finding clothes that fit has become so dire that, before the state funeral of a former prime minister this year, soldiers had to scramble to borrow colleagues’ uniforms, switching labels and rank badges to assemble an honor guard. He said some soldiers wait more than a year to receive a properly tailored “No. 1” uniform for ceremonial duties.

“It’s a disgrace,” said Scally, president of the union that represents 8,500 members of the Irish Defence Forces.

The commander, Lt. Gen. Conor O’Boyle, said Thursday he hadn’t been informed of any problem.

Associated Press