oddly enough

oddly enough

Coin toss decides winner of small Illinois village election

MARION, Ill.

The flip of a coin decided the next leader of a tiny town in southern Illinois after an election earlier this month ended in a tie.

Williamson County Clerk Amanda Barnes said Bryan Riekena let fellow candidate Tammy O’Daniell-Howell choose heads or tails before the coin toss. She picked heads.

Barnes said she “let it just fall to the ground,” and it landed on heads, making O’Daniell-Howell village president in Colp, home to about 250 residents.

After her victory, O’Daniell-Howell said she made a promise to Riekena that if she won, she would work to find a place for him on the village board.

“I intend to honor that promise,” said the lifelong resident of the village. “We need young voices, we need change, and we need growth.”

O’Daniell-Howell has been the village clerk since 2009. Riekena describes his occupation as “geek.” He attended Southern Illinois University on a swimming scholarship and stayed in the area after earning a bachelor’s degree in chemistry.

O’Daniell-Howell said her long-term plans for the town include creating a community center, which also would function as a storm shelter.

Barnes said she let both candidates inspect the 2016 North Dakota quarter before she tossed it.

“It was the shiniest one I found in the office,” she said, adding the event “went very smoothly.”

The candidates each received 11 votes in the April 4 election. Illinois law calls for coin flips to settle ties.

Police pick up adorable intruders: pygmy goats

BELFAST, Maine

Police in Maine have picked up some adorable intruders after two miniature goats escaped from their home and wandered the streets.

A Belfast police officer responded Sunday morning to find the pygmy goats in a woman’s garage. They had been snacking on cat food. Officer Daniel Fitzpatrick used a cat leash to lead them into his squad car.

The trio drove around looking for the goats’ owner as Fitzpatrick fed them carrots and celery. Belfast is a seaport town about 45 miles east of Augusta.

The daughter of the goats’ owner saw Fitzpatrick’s Facebook post and picked up the pair, named Louis and Mowgli – but not before Fitzpatrick snapped a selfie with the duo.

Associated Press