Around the Nation

ARKANSAS

Scam artist squirrels away money

HOT SPRINGS — A scam artist bilked a woman by promising to squirrel-proof her home.

The man told the woman he had seen a squirrel crawl into a plumbing vent atop her home and offered to cap the vent for $40. When he went to the front door later for payment, he said he had capped 100 holes and wanted $4,000. She paid $2,000, authorities said.

COLORADO

Motorcyclists ride to honor slain girl

BAILEY — About 5,000 motorcyclists rode in a caravan in honor of the 16-year-old girl who was shot at her high school by a gunman who held her hostage.

The motorcyclists, including Park County Sheriff Fred Wegener, rode 40 miles to Platte Canyon High School from Columbine High School, the scene of the nation’s worst school shooting in 1999.

It was Sheriff Wegener who made the call for SWAT officers to invade a classroom where authorities said Duane Morrison, 53, took Emily Keyes and other girls hostage and molested them on Sept. 27.

On Saturday, bikers paid donations to take part in the ride from Columbine to Bailey. Money collected from the ride will go to a fund to help the girls who were taken hostage.

FLORIDA

Ritzy entry wins ice-cream contest

JACKSONVILLE — Chocolate-covered Ritz crackers, gooey caramel and vanilla ice cream — it doesn’t get much better than that, judges ruled at an ice-cream contest.

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