OFFBEAT NEWS:

Pair Of Jet Skiers Almost Collide With Cruise Ship

What’s scarier than falling off a jet ski and not being able to get back up? How about seeing that a cruise ship is heading straight for you? That’s what happened to two women from West Virginia trying to avoid some fun in the sun in Port Canaveral, Florida.

Skylar Penpasuglia and Allison Garrett fell into the water, their jet ski capsized and strong winds kept them from being able to climb back on. Fortunately, Seaport Security Marine Deputy Taner Primmer, who was providing an escort for the Carnival Magic, saw what was happening and was able to swoop in and pull the girls on board the vessel.

On top of that, the cruise ship’s captain was also able to steer away from the stranded jet skiers.

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Man Is In Court For Playing Pokemon Go In Church

Russia does not appreciate Pokemon Go…at least not at church. Russian blogger Ruslan Sokolovsky was arrested last year for playing the mobile game in a church built on the supposed spot where the family of the last Russian tsar, Nicholas II, was killed.

Now, the 22-year-old is finally seeing his day in court on charges of “inciting religious hatred.” If convicted, he faces up to seven-and-a-half years in prison if convicted.

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Retirees Are Knitting Sweaters For Chilly Chickens

A group of retirees are helping out New England’s chilly chickens. A knitting club in suburban Boston are knitting sweaters for poultry that are not used to the cold weather.

“I don’t think in my wildest dreams I ever thought anybody made sweaters for chickens,” 76-year-old Barbara Widmayer explains. “There’s so much going on these days that’s kind of contentious in the world. It was actually very calming to me to work on this.”

It seems like the chickens are digging their new threads. The sweaters are keeping the birds at an estate known as the Mary M.B. Wakefield Charitable Trust warm and it’s noticeably boosted egg production.

Now, the knitting club is considering their next unusual project, which may be knitting blankets for elephants in India. “Probably not something we’re going to do,” organizer Nancy Kearns explains. “But you never know.”

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STUPID CRIMINALS:

Thief steals a street sweeper:

If you’re going to steal a vehicle, most people go for a Ferrari. Brock Watkins went for a street sweeper. Police suspect the man broke into a Puyallup, Washington self storage center, took the sweeper,  and drove through a chain link fence to escape. When all was said and done, Watkins caused $2,500 in total damage. A cop was able to arrest him as he tried to walk away from the sweeper. He’s now facing charges of burglary, motor vehicle theft, and malicious mischief.

ICYMI: State representative found passed out with loaded firearm in drive-thru:

Wes Retherford had a crazy weekend. In case you missed it, the state representative from Ohio was found passed out in his vehicle at a McDonald’s drive-thru… with a loaded firearm. Retherford, who has a reputation of being a partier (with drink carts in his office), now faces charges of operating a vehicle while under the influence and improper handling of a firearm in a motor vehicle. If he get convicted of the firearm charge, which is a felony, he won’t be able to serve as a state representative. Oops.

Police use a taser on a suspect wearing in Pikachu onesie:

Bar fights are nothing new. One of the attackers wearing a Pikachu onesie while throwing punches? That’s newsworthy – or at least something to laugh about. Steven Goodwine, Jr. was the one police found wearing Pokemon PJs and trying to pick a fight with the bouncers at A-Town Bar & Grill in Arlington, Virginia. Marcus Reid ended up getting involved and when authorities showed up, Pikachu and the Reid ended up turning their aggression toward the boys in blue. Both suspects were tased during the brawl, taken into custody, and charged with assault and  battery on a police officer along with other charges.