WOMAN’S APPEAL FOR KIDNEY DONOR ON CAR WINDOW PAYS OFF: SOUTH PORTLAND, Maine (AP) — A Maine woman’s decision to seek a kidney donor by putting a personal plea in bright yellow letters on her car has paid off.
Christine Royles of South Portland, who suffered kidney failure because of an autoimmune disease, went on the national waiting list to find a donor, but decided to take matters into her own hands.
The 24-year-old waitress and mother of a 2-year-old boy painted an appeal on her car’s rear window, along with a phone number, according to the Portland Press Herald.
Josh Dall-Leighton, a 30-year-old corrections officer from Windham and a father of three, saw the message during an outing with his family. “I just looked at my wife and said, ‘I have to try,’” he said.
After learning he was a potential match, the two met face to face last week. Final testing should be completed in a few weeks, and surgery is tentatively scheduled for May.
People in need of an organ transplant are increasingly expanding their search beyond the national donor list and family members and friends, said Sean Roach, spokesman for the National Kidney Foundation.
“We see people using social medial or putting ads out for altruistic donors,” Roach said. “It takes a lot of courage to put yourself out there like that.”
Although humans are born with two kidneys, it’s possible to function just fine with only one of the organs, which filter waste from blood, said Jen Dalton, the clinical coordinator at Maine Nephrology Associates. But donors need to be tested regularly for kidney function and watch their weight and blood pressure.
PIZZA SHOP BURGLAR STEALS 100 CANDY BARS, COOKIES: PLEASANTVILLE, Pa. (AP) — State police in northwestern Pennsylvania are looking for a burglar who just may have some cavities — or, at least, a sweet tooth.
Troopers from Franklin say whoever broke into Corky’s Pizza Shop overnight Friday into Saturday stole more than 100 chocolate bars and eight chocolate chip cookies.
The candy bars were larger fundraiser-type bars from Daffin’s Candy in Sharon.
3 ARRESTED AFTER 70 VEHICLES DAMAGED IN CENTRAL OHIO: NEWARK, Ohio (AP) — Three teens were arrested after police in central Ohio received at least 70 reports of vehicle damage during the past week.
Police in Newark said they began receiving calls last week about vehicle damage caused by BB guns, and officers reportedly found BB packages and CO2 cartridges near some of the damaged cars.
Police said they arrested 18-year-old Steven Burns of Newark and two boys, ages 16 and 17, early Sunday on an unrelated charge of felonious assault. At least one of the three confessed to damaging the vehicles.
Sgt. Paul Davis said there have been more than 70 reports of vehicle damage in Newark and Heath, and he expects the number to grow. Police continued to get a stream of damage reports Monday, and some residents have also called to report BB gun damage to houses, Davis said.
Police said they’re asking victims to send in pictures and provide estimated costs of the damage.
Davis said police are preparing to file charges against the three arrested, but called it “a huge undertaking” because of the large number of vandalism reports.
MAN DECORATING FAMILY GRAVE IS KILLED BY FALLING HEADSTONE: THROOP, Pa. (AP) — Police say a Pennsylvania man decorating a relative’s grave for Easter with his wife has been killed after a headstone fell on him.
Police say 74-year-old Stephan Woytack was struck in the head Monday at Saint Joseph’s Cemetery in nearby Throop.
A cemetery caretaker said the Scranton couple visits the grave several times a year and ties a cross to it each year.
Caretaker Ed Kubilus says the bases of headstones often sink when the ground thaws, making them susceptible to tipping over.
STEPDAD ACCUSED OF KILLING 9-WEEK-OLD WHILE MOM IN HOSPITAL: MILLVILLE, N.J. (AP) — A New Jersey man has been charged with killing his 9-week-old stepdaughter while her mother was in the hospital.
Cumberland County prosecutors say 33-year-old Manuel Mikes, of Millville, is charged with murder and child endangerment. He was being held Monday on $1 million bail.
Prosecutors say emergency crews responded early Friday to reports of an unresponsive baby. The baby was pronounced dead there, and her death has been ruled a homicide.
Authorities say the girl died from blunt trauma to the back of her head. Further details were not disclosed.
Authorities say Mikes was caring for the girl while her mother was in the hospital.
SUV CRASHES INTO LONG ISLAND STOREFRONT, KILLING CUSTOMER: GREAT NECK, N.Y. (AP) — Police say an SUV pulling into a parking space has barreled through a New York storefront, killing a customer.
A second customer and a store employee also suffered minor injuries Monday in the Long Island crash.
Nassau County police say the victim, 66-year-old Lizabeth Sbarr, was waiting to be served at the AT&T store in Great Neck.
Inspector Kenneth Lack said the driver was pulling into a parking spot when she went through the store’s glass exterior around 10:50 a.m.
Lack says the crash appears to be accidental and no criminal charges are expected.
Bystanders lifted the SUV to free the woman. She was pronounced dead at a hospital shortly after 1 p.m.
