WEIRD NEWS

X-ray is

key to success

NORTH PLATTE, Neb. — Arthur Richardson thought he’d pull a prank and pretend to swallow a friend’s truck key.

Unfortunately, Wednesday’s prank backfired when Richardson plopped the key in his mouth and gravity took over.

Richardson went to a doctor Thursday, who X-rayed his stomach and got a clear picture of the key. The doctor said the key posed no danger, but Richardson’s friend needed to use his truck.

So Richardson and his friend took the X-rays to a locksmith, who used the pictures to fashion a new key. And it worked in the truck.

John Somers, owner of Al’s Lock and Safe, said he’d never made a key before from an X-ray image.

‘‘I have done all sorts of lock work, I’ve done all sorts of safe work,’’ Somers said. ‘‘This is truly a first in my career.’’

Caught with your hand

in the cookie jar, sort of

AUSTIN, Texas — A quick-thinking Denny’s cashier thwarted a robbery by slamming the man’s thumb in the cash drawer, trapping him while she yelled for help, police said.

According to a police affidavit, Duane Eric Roper ate at the restaurant on Thursday and then asked the cashier for change for a dollar. When she opened the drawer, he allegedly pulled out a box cutter and demanded all the money.

As the suspect reached into the drawer, the cashier slammed it shut and yelled for help. A customer called 911 while a manager freed the man and told him to leave.

The suspect was arrested a short time later.

Village People +

Middle School = trouble

SELMA, Ind. — A middle school principal will likely think twice before goofing around on stage to the Village People.

Alice Mehaffey, principal of Selma Middle School and an assistant superintendent, shocked some community members during a recent talent show when a male student, pretending to be a police officer, handcuff her, and she tore the T-shirt off another boy during an encore of the songs ‘‘YMCA’’ and ‘‘Macho Man.’’

Liberty-Perry schools Superintendent James Craig said the school board did not decide whether or not Mehaffey should be punished, instead leaving it up to Craig.

‘‘The board said it’s a personnel issue that the superintendent will handle,’’ Craig said Wednesday. ‘‘I am not recommending that she be dismissed from the position. She’s apologized to the community. I think we’re trying to move on.’’