Thursday, July 21, 2011

PIGEON RIDES VESSEL EVERYDAY FOR PAST THREE YEARS

NEW YORK (UPI) -- Crew members of a New York Waterway ferry said the same feral pigeon has ridden the vessel every day for the past three years.

The crew members of the Thomas Jefferson ferry from Manhattan to Weehawken, N.J., said the pigeon, nicknamed Tony, boards the vessel every day during the rush hour commute and rides the ferry back and forth for about two hours, the New York Daily News reported Monday.

The crew said the bird returns for another two-hour shift during the evening commute.

"I've been working this job for 23 years and I've never seen anything like this," said senior deckhand George Schumpp, 52. "Three years ago, this pigeon shows up and starts going through the cabin and eating crumbs. Next thing you know, he's here every day at the exact same time. And he does more work cleaning than my partner."

Schumpp and others working on the boat said the bird has only been known to miss days if there is a blizzard involved.

The crew said they have made Tony their unofficial mascot and have set up a Facebook page in his name.

"I've been a New Yorker my whole life and we're not big fans of pigeons, but Tony has changed the way I think," Schumpp said. "He's really smart and unique. He thinks he's human. He'll walk on and off the boat with the passengers. The passengers love him."

Copyright 2011 by United Press International

Wednesday, July 20, 2011

Two Men Locked Selves Inside Police Van

RADNOR, Pa. (UPI) -- Police in Pennsylvania said they arrested two men who broke into a police van to take gag pictures and accidentally locked themselves inside the vehicle.

Radnor police said Marlton, N.J., residents Ryan Letchford, 21, and Jeffrey Olsen, 22, left a party early Saturday and entered Constable Mike Connor's van, which had been in the parking lot of the condominium where the party was located, the Philadelphia Daily News reported Monday.

Investigators said Letchford and Olsen, who are believed to have entered the van to take gag pictures of themselves being arrested, got locked in. Police said a friend found them in the van after they failed to return to the party and called 911 because he was unable to free them.

Police contacted Connor, who said he must have left a door unlocked because there was no sign of forced entry.

"I came down and unlocked the doors, and 'Dumb and Dumber' pranced out of the van," Connor said. "They looked a little embarrassed."

Connor said the men had been smoking cigarettes and spitting while inside the vehicle. Cigarette butts and "a large amount of saliva" were in the van, police said.

Letchford and Olsen were arrested and charged with attempted theft of a motor vehicle, public drunkenness and criminal mischief.

Copyright 2011 by United Press International