ODDLY ENOUGH

ODDLY ENOUGH

Candidate’s own write-in vote will win an election

STANTON, Mich.

Just one write-in vote will win an election for a county post in western Michigan.

Christopher Johnston lost the August primary for a seat on Montcalm County Board of Commissioners. Ron Braman’s victory meant he would run unopposed in the Nov. 6 election. But the 74-year-old Braman died Oct. 24.

The Daily News in Greenville reports that Johnston met the deadline to sign up as a write-in candidate, two days after Braman’s death. No one else did. So Johnston only needs a single vote Tuesday to become a county commissioner.

The Montcalm County clerk says Johnston “absolutely” can write his own name. Fred Woodhams, spokesman for the secretary of state, says, “It’s not common, but it does happen from time to time.”

Girl, 7, gets town to change its name for Halloween

HUNTINGTON, N.Y.

A Long Island town changed its name to “Hauntington” for Halloween at the urging of a 7-year-old resident.

Newsday reports second-grader Angelica Dee Cunningham was all smiles when she learned Huntington was making the one-day switch last week, when the town council unanimously approved the switch.

Angelica’s parents encouraged her to write to town officials after she blurted her “Hauntington” idea out during a car ride.

She sent a handwritten note explaining how the name would be fun to say, but she didn’t think officials would take her suggestion seriously.

Town Supervisor Chad Lupinacci loved the idea and said he expects to use Angelica’s moniker more in years to come.

Angelica says she thought of the name because she has a Monster High doll named Ari Hauntington.

100s of ‘witches’ paddle down river, minus brooms

PORTLAND, Ore.

Hundreds of “witches” traded in broomsticks for paddles in Oregon during the last weekend before Halloween.

The costumed coven paddled six miles on boards Oct. 29 along the Willamette River, which divides the city of Portland.

The Oregonian/OregonLive reported that the paddleboard event started two years ago with a handful of participants but now attracts hundreds.

Participants donated packages of socks, underwear and T-shirts to a local nonprofit group before they started paddling. Spectators who were caught off guard by the witches watched from the shoreline.

Associated Press