Strange But True

The Glory Hole shelter has stopped serving donated bear meat after learning the state prohibits nonprofit groups from accepting wild game meats such as bear, fox and walrus.

"We didn't know that it is illegal," said Jetta Whittaker, executive director of the shelter.

For years, the Glory Hole accepted bear meat to supplement its meals for the homeless. The meat went into many recipes, including burgers, casseroles and spaghetti.

But last year, Whittaker learned that serving it was contrary to rules set by the Alaska Department of Environmental Conservation, which is worried about transmitting trichinosis.

This year, that has meant turning down five offers of bear meat.

"That was 250 pounds of ground meat I could use for spaghetti sauce," said Bob Thompson, operations manager of the shelter. "We are protein-poor."

Take physical education online

MINNEAPOLIS - It might not sound too strenuous, but some Minneapolis students are taking physical education courses online.

Jan Braaten, the district's lead teacher for physical education and health, said her staff was leery of the idea at first. "It's kind of an oxymoron to have online PE," she said.

But Braaten and others who developed the class are proud of their creation and say it's drawing interest from around the state and beyond. Online phys ed is being offered this summer as well.

Online learning offers a way for busy students to shoehorn the state-required academic courses and the electives they want into their schedules.

The course begins and ends with face-to-face meetings between student and teacher.

Those sessions include testing components of fitness such as strength, flexibility and endurance. Students also are provided with a heart monitor and record its readings and how hard they perceive they're working, along with other workout notes, in an activity journal. They e-mail their work for each weekly unit to teachers.

"It's sort of counterintuitive," concedes Judy McQuade, mother of student Chris Ransom. "Snicker, snicker - do I just click my mouse?"

One woman sit-in

ST. GEORGE, S.C. - A woman wants access to St. George's accounting books, and she plans to sit at Town Hall until she gets it.

"I was a bra-burning, liberal, woman's lib advocate in the '60s," said Ann Atkins, who is protesting the town's reluctance to open its records after an audit showed thousands of dollars were missing.

The State Law Enforcement Division has been investigating the missing money for about a year. No one has said exactly how much is missing.

"I want indictments," said Atkins, who started her sit-in Monday. "They have taken my money."

St. George Mayor David Sojourner was not available to comment Tuesday. He has said the apparent misappropriation of funds will warrant changes in how the town conducts business.

Atkins, who dons a "Don't Tread On Me" flag as she rests on a small mattress in the hallway during office hours, alleges that the town has done nothing to correct several deficiencies outlined in a recent audit.

"I've tried to be real ladylike and I've tried Southern gentility, but it hasn't worked," she said.

Two-headed kitten dies

ROSEBURG, Ore. - Gemini, the two-headed kitten born this month, is no more.

Owner Lee Bluetear said she didn't know what caused the death of the unusual creature, which died Thursday in the town of Glide, but she said the kitten appeared very tired and did not want to eat.

The story and photo of Gemini was distributed worldwide. "I couldn't believe how much interest there really was," Bluetear said.

Veterinarians initially gave Gemini a meager chance of one long life, let alone nine. Gemini was born with two mouths, two tongues, two noses and four eyes.

Bluetear, 40, said things looked good at first. Gemini initially appeared strong and was drinking milk.

"Everybody is totally amazed that this thing exists," Bluetear said at the time.