Dateline: North CarolinaA young boy was robbed at gunpoint for $17 while operating a lemonade stand. WSOC Charlotte reports 9-year-old Mark David was held up earlier in the month by a male teenager wearing a camouflage hat and a black shirt. David told police and reporters that he was operating an organic lemonade stand when when the teenager pushed a gun into the boy’s stomach and demanded he give up his money. David gave the robber his cash box, containing the small sum of $17, and the perpetrator ran away. Union County police reportedly found a camouflage hat, a black BB handgun and the stolen metal box in the woods near the lemonade stand. They also discovered footage from a nearby surveillance camera depicting a young man they believed to be the suspect. Last week police arrested a suspect in connection to the robbery. Detectives reportedly obtained petitions charging the juvenile with robbery with a dangerous weapon and possession of drug paraphernalia. Following the incident numerous members of the boy’s community offered support. David’s neighborhood homeowners association president set up a GoFundMe account to help pay for the child’s college, and when reporters learned that David had been saving to buy a lawnmower, the local Lowe’s was moved to donate a new-pony model riding lawnmower to him. The lemonade stand has reopened since the robbery. In addition to selling the seasonal drink, the young entrepreneur also works as a lawn mower, dog walker and professional ring bearer. Dateline: OhioWhen a broken water main interrupted his shower, a man finished rinsing off in the middle of the street. According to ABC 6 in Columbus, city construction crews accidentally hit a water main in the man’s neighborhood, consequently shutting off all water in the area. Witnesses say a naked man ran out of his house and angrily yelled at the surprised workers before rinsing off in the water spraying out of the broken main. Cody Vickers, one of the city employees on the scene, posted an image of the incident on Facebook with the caption: “Well it’s not everyday you hit a water main! With that being said, it’s not everyday you see a naked man come out of his house screaming and cussing, saying ‘I was in the fucking shower,’ then comes off the porch and finishes taking his shower where the excavator hit the line.” Vickers also captured video footage of the man’s impromptu street shower. Workers say the man finished rinsing off before angrily yelling at them once more and returning to his home. None of the city employees involved were able to recall any similar situations happening in the past. Neighbors say recent construction in the area has led to water shut-offs on a number of occasions.Dateline: United StatesA petition calling for basketball star LeBron James to replace Betsy DeVos as US Secretary of Education has gathered thousands of signatures. The Care2 petition, which reached its goal of 30,000 signatures last week, noted that James is an “influential community advocate and activist” while calling DeVos a “scandal-ridden Republican donor.” The petition’s author, Rebecca Gerber, told USA Today that she was “unsurprised” by the positive response the petition received. Last month James made headlines when he criticized President Donald Trump during a CNN interview, saying the president has been creating a racial divide among the nation’s citizens. Trump responded by tweeting, “Lebron James was just interviewed by the dumbest man on television, Don Lemon. He made Lebron look smart, which isn’t easy to do.” Surprisingly first lady Melania Trump publicly sided with the famous athlete, complimenting his charity work and even offering to visit a school James recently opened in Akron, Ohio. It is unclear whether James is interested in taking up a career in politics, but he reportedly signed a four-year contract with the Los Angeles Lakers in July, making it appear unlikely.Dateline: MichiganA man has opened “Amish Uber,” a ride service utilizing a horse and buggy. WWMT reports that Timothy Hochstedler is offering rides all around St. Joseph County, Mich., for just $5 a person. “Uber is a cool thing, every single year something new comes in and Uber is hot right now, so we have the Amish Uber. We can deliver people to their front door steps,” Hochstedler told reporters. Most of the Amish reject modern technologies—including mobile phones and automobiles—and Hochstedler’s business uses neither. Instead of calling a driver with an app, as Uber users do, an Amish Uber rider merely waves down Hochstedler when they see him passing by. The driver says the vehicle’s mode of locomotion, a Morgan horse, has proven quite fond of the business’ clients, who are reportedly happy to finally have a ride-sharing service in their area. Hochstedler does not work for Uber in any capacity.
Compiled by Joshua Lee. Email your weird news to josh@alibi.com.
