Cyclists knocked off their bikes by a deer

A famous lawnmower and tractor company says that, "Nothing runs like a Deer[e]" and two cyclists up in Leelanau county now have first-hand experience to back up that claim. Dan Hofstra and Bob Otwell were riding along amongst a group of 15 cyclists when a deer ran out of the woods and sent Hofstra flying when he ran into the deer and then the deer slammed into Otwell before making it across the road. I had never heard of anyone on a bike having a run-in with a deer before, but apparently Hostra and Otwell join a short list that includes them and Tim Brick in the Traverse City area alone. According to the Traverse City Record Eagle both men suffered the following injuries -

Otwell suffered a broken pelvis and possibly separated his shoulder.

Hofstra received several stitches on his knee and sustained a possible fractured vertebrae.

Incredible wheelchair ride in Paw Paw

By now, most everyone has heard the story of 21 year old, Ben Carpenter, and his 50 mph wheelchair ride through Paw Paw while stuck to the grill of a semi truck. Well, here is a brief interview of the young man who miraculously survived the ordeal without a scratch.

If the player does not appear, click here.

Michigan man receives court settlement in pennies

Bob Wilson received his court ordered settlement of $350 in pennies. That's 35,000 pennies for those of you are playing along at home. Wilson won his case in small claims court against Karl Stephen, owner of NSK Motorsports in Fowlerville. Wilson had repeatedly taken a dirt bike in to NSK Motorsports and it was never fixed properly and it sat unfixed for a few months.

Stephen paid the settlement in pennies to "show his contempt for Wilson." He did pay in legal currency - there is no law that says you can't use pennies.

Now, I have heard in the news where folks that are unhappy with their traffic tickets try paying their fines in pennies and are told by clerks that paying in pennies is an unacceptable form of payment. They paid their fines in legal currency too, right?

Furniture made from cow manure is no bull

Picture yourself walking across the floor and sitting on a chair at your kitchen table. Now imagine that the floor, chair, and table are all made from cow manure! Sound gross?

Researchers at Michigan State University are currently working to use the fiber from processed and sterilized cow manure in place of sawdust in fiberboard. Early results of some tests show that the "manure fiberboard" "seems to match or beat the quality of wood-based products."

This would certainly be a plus for farmers. Instead of having to pay an average of $200 per cow annually, farmers could bring in revenue by selling the manure to fiberboard manufacturers. It will be interesting to see if this flies or not.

Read the article at cbs11tv.com.

More stupid Michigan crooks

The Kalamazoo Gazette is reporting a large marijuana bust in Cass County in the wee hours of Sunday morning. The circumstances leading to this large drug bust are what makes me smile. A 60 year old resident of Calvin Township called the sheriff's department to report a home invasion. The armed suspects had bound her hands and feet while pointing a gun at her. The woman's 63 year old boyfriend was found by deputies in a similar fashion out in the barn.

During the course of searching for the suspects a large marijuana growing operation was discovered in another building on the property.

Police found more than 500 growing marijuana plants, a large amount of processed marijuana, a “highly technical” electronic lighting and heating system, and loaded weapons.

The suspects who tied the couple up made off with "valuable items" and cash. Any guesses as to what the "valuable items" were? Note to processors, sellers, and growers of marijuana:

If someone breaks into your home and steals "valuable items" and cash or anything for that matter - remember to weigh the consequences of calling that in to the police.

They call that - police work made easy. :)

Marquette history museum to feature Yoopers exhibit

Coming this April to the Marquette County Historical Museum is an exhibit dedicated to those wonderful souls who call Michigan's Upper Peninsula home and are affectionately referred to as 'Yoopers.' The exhibit will be called "Anatomy of a Yooper." This appears to be a play on the popular novel "An Anatomy of a Murder" written by Marquette resident Robert Traver and also made into a great film starring James Stewart. Robert Traver is the pen name for John Voelker a former Michigan Supreme Court justice. Local residents are being asked to submit stories, photos, or artifacts that help show that 'Yooper' spirit. Directly from the museum's website is this further explanation of what they are looking for:

Unique words and phrases, ethnic customs, coping with the weather, excellent work ethic, unique foods and ways of preparing them, camps and camping, ingenuity with recycling items to make useful things such as Finnish rag rugs and snowshoes, coping with bug season and anything else that makes Yoopers stand apart from the rest.

This sounds like a fun and entertaining exhibit. I wish Marquette wasn't so far away as this is something that will be quite interesting and I would like to see it.

Read the article in The Mining Journal.