The Odd Truth: June 23, 2005

Parking Meters Stolen; Drunken Flying; Traffic Light Hacker; More

(CBS/AP)  The Odd Truth is a collection of strange but factual news stories from around the world compiled by CBSNews.com's Meredith Stoffel.

Candy Bar Lawsuit

LEXINGTON, Ky. - A woman who won a radio contest that promised the winner "100 grand" sued after the station gave her a candy bar — a Nestle's 100 Grand — instead of $100,000.

Norreasha Gill filed a complaint in Fayette District Court against Atlanta-based Cumulus Media, which owns WLTO-FM in Lexington. Gill, 28, says the station and its parent company breached a contract to pay $100,000 to the contest winner.

Night host DJ Slick sponsored the station's contest to "win 100 grand," Gill said in the lawsuit. Gill won by listening to the radio show for several hours and being the 10th caller at a specified time.

She went to the radio station the next morning to pick up her prize, but was asked to return later. When she got home, she found that the station manager had left a message explaining she had won a 100 Grand candy bar, not money.

Later, he offered her $5,000, Gill said.

"I said I wanted $95,000 more," she said. "Nobody would watch and listen for two hours for a candy bar."

Experts said the radio station could face action by the Federal Communications Commission, which licenses radio stations.

FCC regulations say contest descriptions can't be false or deceptive and that stations must conduct contests as advertised. Stations in two other states have been fined for contests that told listeners they'd won cash prizes without specifying they were in the Italian or Turkish lira, not the U.S. dollar.

Before her family went to sleep that night, Gill says, she promised her children — ages 1, 5 and 11 — that they'd have a minivan, a shopping spree, a savings account and a home with a back yard.

"What hurts me is they were going to get me in front of my children, all dressed up, and hand me a candy bar, after all those promises I made to them," she told the Lexington Herald-Leader. "You just don't do that to people."


Parking Meters Stolen

KALAMAZOO, Mich. - Someone is stealing parking meters, poles and all, from the city's downtown.

Fifty-seven of Kalamazoo's approximately 1,000 meters were taken in 10 days. None could hold more than about $10 in change.

Several stolen meters, some damaged beyond repair, have been recovered alongside roads and in local parks, said Sgt. Scott Merlo of the Kalamazoo Department of Public Safety.

The rash of brazen, public thefts began June 10 when five meters were pulled from the ground near Kalamazoo Avenue and Church Street and on East South Street, Merlo said.

“Somebody that is that brazen to do something in public, to take that big of a chance for that little of a gain is someone that is definitely desperate for money,” Merlo said.

This is the city's second outbreak of parking meter thefts this year. In March, 20 downtown meters were broken into and damaged during two separate incidents, although no supporting poles were taken, Merlo said.


Drunken Flying

HARRISON, N.Y. - There's no law against flying while drunk in New York State.

But authorities say a 20-year-old Connecticut man was still intoxicated when he landed the small stolen plane, and when he taxied it across Westchester County's airport. So, he's being charged with DWI.

Philippe Patricio is accused of stealing the plane in Connecticut and going on a three-hour joyride with two 16-year-old passengers.

When police met him after a safe landing in Westchester, authorities say beer cans came spilling out the door.

They say his blood-alcohol level was nearly twice the legal driving limit. And they seem somewhat impressed by how the man was able to land the craft on a small, unlit runway in his condition.

The teens won't be charged.


Traffic Light Hacker

SUNNYVALE, Calif. - Authorities in Silicon Valley are looking for a traffic light hacker. Someone has been fooling around with the traffic signals in the Northern California town of Sunnyvale. Lights have been turned off or rigged to flash red in all directions. Officials say the prankster even used a cherry-picker truck to turn traffic lights to face the wrong way. Authorities say the light hacker knows what he or she is doing and has a key to the light control boxes. No one has been hurt but authorities are concerned about safety at intersections. Officials are appealing to citizens to watch for anyone who's messing around with the traffic signals.


Inept Robber

LAS VEGAS - Police in Las Vegas say they didn't have too much trouble finding the guy who robbed a pizza parlor. According to authorities, Alejandro Martinez left behind a job application with his real name and address. Clark County prosecutor Frank Coumou says he chalks it up to either inexperience or plain stupidity. Investigators say Martinez ordered a pizza and started filling out the application. Then he allegedly pulled a gun and demanded money. A clerk handed over $200. Investigators not only have the application, they say a witness also wrote down the plate number on Martinez's getaway car. He now faces burglary and robbery charges.


Academy Says No To Stunt People

LOS ANGELES - They risk their lives to create movie magic. But it's still not good enough for an Oscar.

The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences has voted against a proposal to add an Oscar category for stunt people. The Academy president says they're trying to reduce the number of awards given out, not add any.

The last time the Academy added a new category was in 2000 for best-animated feature film.