An Indiana couple who topped the scales at more than 700 pounds combined have undergone weight-loss surgery — on the same day.
Lorie and Todd Richmond of Demotte, Ind., both had surgery last week at the University of Chicago Medical Center. They made the decision after years of failed diets and 10 months of preparation.
The 305-pound husband underwent gastric bypass surgery, and his 402-pound wife had a duodenal switch. Both operations were performed by Dr. Vivek Prachand.
The doctor says it’s the first time he has performed surgeries on a husband and wife in the same day.
— Don’t try this at home.
Fire officials in New Bedford, Mass., say a man using a blowtorch to melt ice on his back porch ended up setting his house on fire, causing up to $30,000 in damage.
Fire Capt. Scott Kruger told The Standard-Times of New Bedford that no on was injured during Monday’s incident at the three-story home.
Kruger says the man was using a torch hooked up to a 20-pound propane cylinder. He got too close to the building’s wood frame and ignited the vinyl siding. The fire quickly spread into the building’s second- and third-floor apartments.
It took 25 firefighters to subdue the blaze that damaged bedrooms in the upstairs units, and caused damage to the structure and wiring.
The homeowner will not be charged.
— A group of Santa impersonators are on the naughty list of Arizona law enforcement officials.
A YouTube video posted Monday shows four people dressed as Kris Kringle, white beards and red hats included, covering three speed and red light enforcement cameras in Tempe.
They cover two of them with boxes — one decorated with Christmas wrap — and the third with what appears to be a red sheet.
The Jackson 5’s “Santa Claus is coming to town” plays during the more than two-minute video.
At the end is a message that reads: “Ho Ho Ho! Death to the surveillance state! Free movement for all people!
The group that posted the video also wrote “lumps of coal to all of those who make it their business to watch and control.”
Arizonans have been lashing out at photo enforcement cameras in recent weeks. In addition to the various cities and towns that put up their own cameras, Arizona became the first in the nation to launch a statewide photo enforcement program in September.
The program calls for 100 mobile and fixed devices on freeways throughout the state. More than 40,000 drivers were issued tickets in October and November — the first two months of the program.
Some people who are fed up with the cameras have been covering them with sticky notes and silly string. One man even took a pickax to a camera in Phoenix, causing cosmetic damage and knocking the camera out of alignment, preventing violators from being photographed until it was fixed.
— And finally, police in Utah have arrested a man they say tried to steal a fire truck so he could drive home — to Washington — for Christmas.
South Salt Lake police Detective Gary Keller says firefighters on a medical call heard the $500,000 truck’s air horn blaring and ran outside, where they found a man in the driver’s seat trying to drive away.
After a lengthy struggle during which the engine traveled about 50 feet, firefighters were finally able to subdue the man until police arrived.
Police say the 25-year-old man told them he wanted to travel to Washington to see his mother for Christmas.
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Mid-Daily Items: Simultaneous slimming surgery
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Lewisburg schools face cuts in personnel, programs
Superintendent Mark DiRocco told the Lewisburg school board Thursday night that a proposed block grant system of school budget funding will run the district short of cash that will have to be made up through personnel and program cuts.
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Mom: Keller's response left her cold
Like many people, Elise Nicol is concerned about Marcellus Shale and the industry's effects on Pennsylvania's environment. The Lewisburg mother of two cares about it enough that she sent an email to state Rep. Fred Keller, R-85 of Kreamer, asking him to oppose House Bill 1950, which passed the General Assembly on Wednesday.
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Point Township authority concerned by sewer plant violations
Point Township Sewer Authority members Thursday night expressed concerns about a Feb. 3 letter sent to the Northumberland Sewer Authority by the state's Department of Environmental Protection saying that the borough authority has violated the Clean Streams Act.
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Persing truck fee idea stalls
While Pennsylvania has passed legislation allowing communities to collect impact fees in 35 counties, Northumberland County is not one of them, and business leaders and lawmakers do not think Sunbury Mayor David Persing's plan to try to do his own version of an impact fee will pass muster.
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Barber draws a crowd
The talk can be spirited at times, ranging from hunting to sports to home repairs. "You hear all kinds of stories," Gene Koehler, of Riverside, said Thursday as he waited for a haircut at The Masters barbershop, 209 Mill St.
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State board approves table games at Valley Forge casino
VALLEY FORGE — A casino resort scheduled to open this spring in the Philadelphia suburb of Valley Forge has been approved for table games.
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Doctors telling more adults: Get out and exercise
ATLANTA — A new study shows more and more U.S. adults are being told by their doctor to get off their duffs and exercise. A government survey found nearly 33 percent of adults who saw a doctor in the previous year said they were told to exercise. That was up from about 23 percent in 2000.
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Former Northumberland County judge and three others die in Florida crash
EVERGLADES CITY, Fla. -- A former Northumberland County judge was one of four people killed Wednesday afternoon when their car collided with a van at an intersection, according to the Naples News. The victims were identified as James J. Rosini, 66, William J. Rosini, 68, Patricia C. Rosini, 65, all of Coal Township, Pa., and Deborah A. Korbich, 59, of Elysburg, Pa.
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Warden demotes four bosses
SUNBURY -- Northumberland County Prison Warden Roy Johnson was able to trim about $135,000 in expenses by demoting four supervisors. He said Wednesday that he found a way to cut costs without laying off any staff. "I cut out 120 hours of supervisors' pay each week, but I need to fill the correction officer positions," Johnson said.
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DJ pumps up audience
Every Tuesday evening, Richard Grogg can be found spinning tunes at possibly the most well-attended dance in Snyder County. A resident at the Selinsgrove Center since 1988, the 57-year-old said the thing he likes most about selecting and playing music is "making people happy." "Some people come up and ask for requests," he said.
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Agency closes adult center
PENNS CREEK -- Union and Snyder County caregivers have had to look farther and wider for another program that can offer respite because the Agency on Aging can no longer afford to provide the service. The adult daily living center at the Penns Creek Adult Resource Center was a helpful program each week to about eight adults from the area dealing with Alzheimer's and dementia. But it closed Dec. 30.
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New Berlin pushes to acquire school
NEW BERLIN -- The Borough Council sold the property where the New Berlin Elementary School is to the precursor of the Mifflinburg Area School District for $1 back in 1950. It was deeded to the district for construction of a school.
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Lewisburg schools face cuts in personnel, programs
