Dead birds left at Salem pet store

SALEM (TUL)– Police are looking for suspects in an animal cruelty case after a Petco employee found at least seven dead birds inside of a trash bag placed in front of the store sometime Friday afternoon.

The birds -- which authorities have identified as possibly geese or ducks -- were placed in individual plastic freezer bags stored inside of the trash bag and found in a shopping cart at about 3:15 p.m., police said.

The cause of death has yet to be determined, according to authorities. Police have no surveillance video of the scene of the crime nor suspects in the case at this time. An active investigation is being conducted by the Salem police department and animal control officer.

What does a Hobo need with Batteries?

MANCHESTER – A homeless man was arrested for shoplifting rechargable batteries at a Home Depot store, police said.

Thaddeus Dejong, 41, was charged with robbery and a parole violation. He also has two outstanding warrants for theft and driving while being an habitual offender, authorities said.

Store security detained Dejong around 11:30 a.m. yesterday after he allegedly attempted to shoplift six 18-volt rechargeable batteries, valued at $537.70 total, police said.

Dejong was being held for police when he tried to break free, knocking over an assistant store manager and a store security officer, police said.
Security personnel grabbed and held him until police arrived.

My state, the alcoholics.

Union Leader- Apparently unphased by the looming financial crisis, New England Alcoholics are flocking to the Live Free or Die state to buy cheap spirits. Liquor sales in New Hampshire are up -- about 4 percent higher than last year at this time, according to Mark Bodi, chairman of the New Hampshire State Liquor Commission. And profits are up even more, about 8 percent.

Bodi says that's partly due to out-of-state customers -- who represent nearly half of NHSLC annual sales -- taking advantage of the state's value pricing.
"Just as consumers are moving from Macy's to Marshall's and the like, and are seeking more value, so, too, is this out-of-state segment who shops in our stores," Bodi said.

The liquor commission is "aggressively marketing" its products, he went on, "so we can capitalize on this opportunity, and to leverage this unique value position that a down economy presents."
Of course, fine wine sales are down. Beer sales are trending up after being flat for 5 years.

Says Bodi: "Beer is now seeing a slight reversal in that trend, as many consumers kind of come back home to their favorite brew ... because of the price advantage that beer holds over spirits and wine," he said.

Teacher Resigns After Student Pictures Found Next To Porn

Student Pictures Were Not Inappropriate, Altered


Concord High School officials said that the photos were found on teacher Bill Haubrich's school-issued laptop computer. The images of the female students were likely taken from a team photo, and the students were fully clothed. The images had also not been altered.

"I was shocked," student Heather Parker said. "I'm still trying to process it."
Haubrich, the school's athletic director and a former vice principal, resigned and surrendered his teaching credentials after the images were found during a systemwide computer upgrade.

Ed Kaplan, the school district's attorney, said that there had never been any problem with Haubrich before.
"Actually, he was a wonderful, well-respected, highly engaging professional in the district for a long time," Kaplan said.

School officials contacted all of the parents whose daughters' photos were found and have been trying to calm their nerves.
"There was no inappropriate picture of their child on the computer," Kaplan said.
Officials said that Haubrich is receiving counseling. His attorney did not admit to the images being found on the computer but issued a statement on Haubrich's behalf.
"At no time did I have any inappropriate contact or communication with any student whatsoever," the statement read. "I apologize to anyone that has been affected by this."
The statement went on to say that "personal and professional matters overwhelmed me."

"Some people should feel violated for what happened, and that's not right," student Stephanie Doiron said. "There's something that should be done about that."
The school district has completed its investigation and said that it will not turn the matter over to police because no criminal acts were committed.