newsmakers

newsmakers

District: Students given ‘Fifty Shades’ puzzles

MONESSEN, Pa.

A Pennsylvania school- district superintendent says five middle-school students mistakenly were handed word-search puzzles based on “Fifty Shades of Grey” with such terms as “leather cuffs” and “spanking.”

The Valley Independent reports Monessen Schools Superintendent Leanne Spazak issued a statement Thursday apologizing and saying the puzzles were “mistakenly and unknowingly” put in a stack of worksheets given to five students Monday.

Spazak didn’t say how that happened or whether any employees were disciplined.

A staff member collected the sheets from the five students once they began sniggering at words such as “bondage,” “submissive” and even more- explicit terms.

One student kept a copy, however, and posted it on social media, which prompted parent complaints and media inquiries.

‘Laugh-In’ announcer Gary Owens dies

LOS ANGELES

The man behind the smooth baritone best known for announcing “Rowan and Martin’s Laugh-In” has died. Gary Owens was 80 years old.

Owens’ family said Friday that the veteran voiceover star died Thursday at his Los Angeles-area home.

Owens hosted thousands of radio programs over his seven-decade career. He appeared in more than a dozen movies and on scores of TV shows, including Lucille Ball and Bob Hope specials. He also voiced hundreds of animated characters, recorded a comedy album and wrote two books.

Owens is survived by his wife of 57 years, Arleta, and their sons, Scott and Chris.

Associated Press