Odds and Ends

BROOKVILLE, Ohio -- A Nevada couple devoured their competition in the first watermelon-eating contest to be sanctioned by the International Federation of Competitive Eating.

Rich LeFevre won the title of World Watermelon Eating Champion on Saturday after putting down 11.22 pounds at the "Swellin' with Melon" contest. LeFevre's wife Carlene took second with 9.78 pounds.

The rules of the contest were simple: eat as much precut seedless watermelon as possible in 15 minutes, and keep it down until after the contest. The competitors - four professional eaters and 12 local entrants - were given trays containing 15 pounds of watermelon.

"We made them stand and eat over their trays, so even the liquid went into it and afterward we subtracted what was left from 15," said Ryan Nerz, spokesman for the International Federation of Competitive Eating.

By the end of the contest, all of the competitors were covered in watermelon juice, and had big wet spots on the fronts of their green T-shirts.

"Rich LeFevre, by the end, he had all juice and was lifting it up to his face to drink the watermelon juice," Nerz said.

Brian Seiken, of New York City, finished third after eating 8.07 pounds of watermelon. He said he prepared by not eating any sugar for a day and a half, and not drinking anything for 12 hours. He said he played basketball before the contest to dehydrate himself even more.

"It was real tough. You had about 12 local eaters that could put away a lot of watermelon. My goal was to not lose to any of the locals," he said.

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HOWLAND, Ohio -- Warren Mayor Michael O'Brien went to shop for vitamins and ended up catching a suspected thief.

O'Brien was shopping at a drug store Monday in this neighboring northeast Ohio community when he heard an assistant manager yell, "Stop!"

A man had left the Rite Aid store with what police later said was $740 in merchandise.

O'Brien happened to be driving a detective cruiser while his city car was in the shop. He followed the man, turned on the lights and siren, pulled over a 1988 Pontiac and called for backup.

The mayor said his citizen's arrest went smoothly.

"I told the men to get out of the car and don't move and they listened to what I said," O'Brien said. "When they turned around I said don't move and they didn't."

Howland police Sgt. Jeff Urso said officers arrested Ivan Sparks, of Warren, on a felony charge of theft and the driver of the car, Marquis Reynolds, also of Warren, on an outstanding warrant.

Rite Aid assistant manager Linda Stewart told police that a man fitting Sparks' description tried to leave the store with a basket of merchandise that included cigarettes and cologne.

"I dove for the basket because I wanted my merchandise back," she said. "The mayor ran to his car, the lights went on and he pulled him over just like on 'Dragnet."'

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ROGERS, Ark. -- City officials are considering a proposal to fine pet owners up to $1,000 and jail them for a year if they fail to pick up their stray dogs or cats after six days - the same penalties as someone convicted of negligent homicide.

While the city says the suggested ordinance tracks with state law, pet owners fear the proposal is excessive.

"I think jail time may be a little severe. What if you're on vacation and someone else is taking care of your dog when it leaves?" said Kathy Jones, who owns a dog named Toby.

Under the ordinance scheduled for discussion Tuesday, pet owners could be cited for animal abandonment on the seventh day of impoundment.

James Willett, director of code enforcement for the city, said the proposed ordinance mirrors the state's law against cruelty to animals regarding animal abandonment. He said fines would likely be lower.

"The judge is going to make the determining factor; nothing is set in stone. It's like shoplifting or driving while intoxicated. People who get DWIs get less than the maximum fine," Willett said.

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NORFOLK, Va. -- There's no point asking sailors aboard the USS Harry S. Truman for some cash. They don't need to have any.

The aircraft carrier is among the first wave of cashless ships, with its crew relying instead on debit cards. Everywhere dollars and cents had been used before - from the vending machines on the mess decks to the ship store to the ticket booth at the carrier's recreation department - now takes only plastic.

For the past two months, more than 5,000 sailors and Marines carried the debit-only MasterCards at sea. The cards were loaded with cash by crew members, who transferred money from their personal bank accounts by using one of five automated teller machines on board.

The Harry S. Truman is one of 24 Navy ships that no longer use cash on board. With the card, sailors at sea can receive pay, access home bank and credit union accounts, transfer and withdraw money, and make purchases.

"We couldn't be any happier with the program," said Cmdr. John King, the Truman's supply officer.

The switch to plastic has even done away with the chapel's collection plate. Worshippers donate electronically on their way in and out of services.

The carrier used to carry $250,000 in coins, largely to feed the vending machines.

"There were some people who were skeptical when we first started," King said. "Now we have very few naysayers."