HUMAN NATURE…
Taken From: Of Human Interest
By PENNY NELSON, United Press International
Week ending May 27, 2000
TOO MUCH CELEBRATING THE NIGHT BEFORE?
The Thunderbirds -- the Air Force's precision flying team -- created chaos in the skies over Washington, D.C., Monday as they left the area in formation far from precise. The Washington Post reports that, while four members of the eight-jet team proceeded as planned toward their home base of Nellis Air Force Base in Nevada, four other F-16s wandered off course -- creating a potentially dangerous situation in the crowded Washington skies. One pilot had to be warned by air traffic controllers about the Blue Ridge Mountains, while two others violated air space restrictions over the vice president's residence at the U.S. Naval Observatory. The fighters also flew too close to at least one commercial jetliner and a private plane. The Thunderbirds had performed at a weekend air show in Washington. The Air Force is looking into the incident.
WAS GRANDMA A FLAPPER?
The suburban Chicago man who won half of the record-setting Big Game jackpot says he plans to put some of his winnings into the family business. Joe Kainz and his wife, Sue, are the owners of the Wild Onion Brewery Co., a Lake Barrington, Ill., beer manufacturer that -- during his grandfather's time -- supplied bootleg booze to the speakeasies of Chicago during Prohibition. He told reporters last Friday that he doesn't plan to retire - despite his $181.5 million prize, which he chose to take in a lump sum payment of about $90 million or $62 million after taxes. But the microbrewery won't be the sole focus of the Kainz family. They plan to put a new roof on their Tower Lakes home -- the current one leaks when it rains. "Honest to God, all I want is a new roof," Sue Kainz said. The couple also plans to pay off some debts, take some trips and give to charity.
MAYBE HE SHOULD'VE LOOKED UP FROM THE STOVE
A Jacksonville, Fla., man has been arrested on attempted murder charges two weeks after he unknowingly cooked a steak for the host of the television show that did him in. "America's Most Wanted" host John Walsh and two police officers didn't know suspect Ali Asgar was behind the stove at the American Cafe when they ate there May 6. Walsh was visiting Jacksonville to film his show and to appear as a guest on "Cops." Both programs were broadcast Saturday night on Fox. Several Jacksonville residents called after recognizing the 31-year-old Asgar on "America's Most Wanted." He was arrested Saturday night soon after the show aired. American Cafe general manager Scott Ballard said they did not know Asgar, who was using the name Jose Torres, was a wanted man.
WHO BROUGHT THE LETTUCE?
It could be called the Great Salad Dressing Heist. A truck containing a shipment of Newman's Own salad dressing was stolen last week, while en route from Southern California to Portland, Oregon. The truck later turned up -- minus approximately 1,200 cases of Olive Oil & Vinegar, Balsamic Vinaigrette, and Family Recipe Italian flavors. Police say while other brands of salad dressing were part of the shipment, they were untouched. Said actor Paul Newman, the founder of Newman's Own: "To be chosen and bought is one thing, to be stolen before all the others is a choice honor indeed." Late last week, 4 cases of empty bottles of the missing products were returned to a local recycling center in Newport, Oregon. Quipped Newman: "They may be thieves, but at least they're environmentalists."
PENNY NELSON, United Press International
Copyright 2000 by United Press International.
All rights reserved.