oddly enough

oddly enough

Tower of filthy snow in Boston finally melts away

BOSTON

The last of Boston’s winter nightmare finally has melted away.

Mayor Martin Walsh announced Tuesday that Boston’s once-massive pile of filthy snow officially has dwindled to nothing. The pile accumulated into a 75-foot tower of snow after a record-breaking winter that dumped more than 110 inches on the city.

The mound made Bostonians shiver into the summer, but not because of the temperature: It was laden with more than 80 tons of garbage, transforming it into a repulsive trash heap as the snow melted. Officials say two snowstorms struck after residents put their trash out, and it got swept up by plows.

The persistent pile prompted Walsh to have a contest for who could guess when it would melt. He’ll announce the winners today.

With summer in full swing and temperatures flirting with the 90s, the epic winter has seemed like a distant bad dream to many Bostonians. Others had speculated – and not happily – that the messy mound might last until Labor Day.

Gov. Charlie Baker captured the mood Tuesday, tweeting: “Our nightmare is officially over!”

Iowa community drops plan to shock official for fundraiser

VAN METER, Iowa

The small Iowa city of Van Meter has dropped plans for a raffle that would have let the winner shock an official with a stun gun.

Bill Daggett, the police chief in the community of 1,000 west of Des Moines, told The Des Moines Register on Tuesday that officials have changed plans after facing criticism from the American Civil Liberties Union of Iowa and others who learned of the raffle through the media. The ACLU had questioned whether it was safe or appropriate to shock an official, even if the effort was for a good cause.

Money raised by selling $5 raffle tickets was intended to help the police department buy a second squad car, add speed radar and potentially expand its six-member part-time and reserve force. The city administrator and a city council member had volunteered to be stunned at a celebration Saturday, with the winner choosing which official would be shocked.

“I am pleased to hear that Van Meter has listened to the very important concerns raised about the Taser raffle. I hope that this has resulted in a better understanding of how dangerous Tasers can be, and the need to ensure that they are only used by properly trained law-enforcement personnel operating under clear policies,” said ACLU of Iowa Director Jeremy Rosen.

The raffle will continue, but the winner will be able to shoot the stun gun at a target.

Daggett said businesses also promised to make donations to Van Meter if officials canceled their plans to stun an official.

“We never expected to have national or international attention or expected to have companies say we’ll help you out,” he said.

Associated Press