newsmakers

newsmakers

2 peace officers suspended over bikini video shoot

SALT LAKE CITY

Two Utah peace officers have been suspended without pay over a risque video shoot featuring bikini-clad women firing high-powered weapons.

The Utah Department of Public Safety imposed the discipline in December on Rob Wilkinson, a Utah Highway Patrol sergeant, and Justin Hansen, a State Bureau of Investigation agent.

The department released its discipline records last week after receiving a request to obtain them by The Salt Lake Tribune.

Wilkinson, who received a three-day suspension, and Hansen, who received a one-day suspension, were at the Big Shot Ranch near Grantsville in June when British bikini models posed for photos and were videotaped firing guns for a calendar.

Among other violations, the records show the two were disciplined for conduct that brings discredit to an officer or agency.

Owner of Maine inn has essay contest to select new owner

LOVELL, Maine

A woman who won a Maine country inn in an essay-writing contest more than two decades ago wants to give it away in the same manner.

Janice Sage is asking prospective owners of the Center Lovell Inn and Restaurant to convince her why they should have the opportunity take over the facility in 200 words or less.

Sage tells The Boston Globe she wants to retire after 22 years of 17-hour days of pleasing guests, cooking, cleaning and just maintaining the 210-year-old building.

Sage expects more than 7,500 entries. At $125 per entry, the total could end up surpassing the inn’s estimated $900,000 value.

She will pick the best 20 entries by May 17 and pass them to two anonymous judges, who will select a winner by May 21.

Raccoon’s freedom costs San Francisco carpenter his job

SAN FRANCISCO

A carpenter has been fired for freeing a raccoon that had been trapped by exterminators at the San Francisco construction site where he worked.

Todd Sutton tells the San Francisco Chronicle that he came to work one morning in late February and saw the animal inside a trap.

The builders had hired professional trappers to have the critter — which was blamed for damage at the $610 million project — removed and euthanized.

But the 49-year-old carpenter says he put the animal in his truck and released it in a nearby grassy area, after getting guidance from animal-control officers.

His employer told the newspaper the move amounted to theft, because Sutton took something from the site that didn’t belong to him.

Sutton has hired an attorney.

Associated Press