As we look back at 2011, there were big stories and great photos that are worth seeing again. But now, things are getting weird. Here are 11 of the oddest local stories that came along this year on HeraldNet, in no particular order:
1. Man stole mower for love, Snohomish police say: When someone is willing to steal a riding lawn mower for you, you know it’s the real thing.
2. Woman accused of attacking husband with power tool reportedly stockpiled supplies: In a less heartwarming story, a woman allegedly went after her husband with a Sawzall. Luckily, her husband escaped.
3. Unusual number of beavers killed along busy Mill Creek road: A gruesome scene greeted rush-hour commuters in March when seven beavers met their fate. Sgt. Randy Lambert had never heard of anything like it in his 35 years at the state Department of Wildlife. Sad and strange.
4. Inmate accused of second pencil attack in court: An inmate stabbed his first lawyer in the neck with a pencil, then remarkably had access to another pencil the next time he was in court. By the time it happened a third time, the story was getting a little repetitive.
5. Arlington grandmother, day care owner chases down purse snatcher: When a thief chose to try to steal from JoAnne VanLeuven of Arlington, he picked the wrong grandmother. This is made even better by VanLeuven’s video re-enactment.
6. Cops called after tussle over videotaping erupts at closed Everett School Board meeting: When adults act like the children they are elected to oversee, that has to make the list.
7. Mystery object falls out of sky in Mountlake Terrace: A couple were sitting in their living room when they heard a “whoowhoowhoowhoo,” followed by a loud “‘BANG!’” as a mysterious piece of metal hit their house. We later found out it was from a dishwasher, but no one knows how it got up there.
8. Mukilteo cop pops propeller pirates: When two men were found with more than 3,000 pounds worth of propeller in their pickup, they had some explaining to do.
9. Suspect in assault on musician told police that band was playing song he didn’t like: A man allegedly went after the band’s guitarist on stage at the Mukilteo Lighthouse Festival. We don’t have enough evidence to judge the song that made him snap.
10. Crows take aim at cops outside Everett’s north precinct: Yes, our very own Angry Birds story. Three crows seemed to take pleasure in dive-bombing police officers as they walked from their cars to the station.
11. It’s the end of the world; how do you feel? Julie Muhlstein wrote about the pending Judgment Day in May. As it turns out, the world reportedly did not end.
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