“Betting on a Boy”
After five generations of girls in the Berriman family, a baby boy has finally joined the herd. Having a girl in the family was so common, the grandparents often placed bets on the gender of the next child born to the family. That all changed when Demi Berriman brought Arnie Ellis, the first boy in ten women, into the world last June, but he wasn’t coming into the world without a fight.
Arnie was born prematurely with severe health issues including sepsis and gastroschisis (meaning his intestines were born outside his body). The little guy weighed under three-pounds and spent two months in the hospital before he was able to come home. But his fight for health has continued – until recently.
While he still needs checkups every six months, Arnie is finally – officially – on the road to recovery.
“He is our little trooper,” says mom Demi. “At one point we were told he only had 24 hours to live but look at him now. He is fantastic… he is demanding and cheeky.”
As for having another boy in the family, the Berrimans stopped placing bets.
“When You Wish Upon a Beard”
Once known as “the most interesting man in the world,” Jonathan Goldsmith brought his finely groomed beard to judge the Best Beardies competition in Vermont, hosted by the Make-a-Wish Foundation. His task? Deciding the best looking beard in the Green Mountain State.
Goldsmith thinks a beard can say a lot about the man who’s wearing it. “If it’s wild looking, unkempt — that has some statement. If it’s immaculately trimmed, it might mean that he keeps a clean desk,” he explains.”If it’s really long, I would say that it’s somebody who is his own man and doesn’t really care about convention.”
This year’s Top Beardie award ultimately went to Chip Fortune of Colchester, Vermont for his mountain man-style beard. Other winners included Troy Headrick for his urban beard, Louie Coli for his freestyle beard, Dillon Mears took home people’s choice, and Steve Jalbert was the top fundraiser. Each won a plaque and a gift card for beard care products and, of course, the right to brag. The competition also raised $45,000 for Make-a-Wish, which topped the almost $30,000 it raised last year.
“Up in Flames”
An animatronic dinosaur at a Colorado theme park went extinct after catching fire. The T-Rex at the Royal Gorge Dinosaur Experience smoldered for about 10 minutes before completely engulfing in flames. At some points, witnesses thought it looked like the dino was breathing fire. The T-Rex was one of 16 dinosaurs at the park that moved and made sounds at the Wild Walk exhibit. Park co-owner Zach Reynolds hopes to have a replacement by the summer.
STUPID CRIMINALS
- A group of inmates is on rooster duty for 200 birds after the Arkansas sheriff’s office seized them after a cockfight. They’re hoping to use the birds as evidence against 137 people arrested in the incident. Several agencies were reportedly working on the case that moved every weekend. At last check, 34 people face felony counts of unlawful animal fighting while 86 face misdemeanor charges. The others arrested were spectators.
- Police in Oregon arrested a man after he attacked the McDonald’s golden arches in Sutherlin. Jedediah Ezekiel Fulton allegedly got upset when employees refused to make him the 30 double cheeseburgers he ordered. He then proceeded to destroy a banner and attack those famous golden arches. He also grabbed a person’s shirt, which prompted another witness to pull a gun. Fulton was later arrested on suspicion of second-degree disorderly conduct, second-degree criminal trespass, second-degree criminal mischief and harassment.
For more ‘Offbeat News‘ listen to Bob’s Morning Brew with KMZN DJ Bob Allen Monday-Saturday on 99.5FM/740AM KMZN.