GM returns stolen Corvette to owner after 33 years

DETROIT (AP) — The last time George Talley saw his beloved 1979 Chevrolet Corvette was when he parked it on Jefferson Avenue in Detroit in 1981.

That was 33 years ago, and Talley had believed the sports car was long gone until a surprise June 13 phone call from auto insurer AAA telling him his Vette was at a police station in Hattiesburg, Mississippi, about 840 miles southwest of Detroit.

"It was a lucky day to hear that my car had been found," Talley said Tuesday in a release. "They told me it was running, had 47,000 miles on it and was ready for me to pick up!"

GM Product Development Executive Vice President Mark Reuss heard the story and offered to ship the car back to Detroit where it was delivered Tuesday morning to Talley at the automaker's world headquarters — about three miles from where it was stolen.

"George's story brought a smile to my face," Reuss said. "As a longtime Corvette owner myself, I know the passion the car inspires. I also knew that car belonged home in Detroit, with its rightful owner, and we could make that happen."

Talley, 71, has owned three other Corvettes, but the 1979 model was his favorite, according to GM.

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Deaf dog helps owner stop attempted burglary

Dan Strasser of Salem, Oregon is crediting his deaf 3-year-old English Springer Spaniel, Bonnie, for helping him catch an attempted home burglar in the act. As reported by KPTV Fox 12, Bonnie was excitedly running around the living room at 6 a.m. recently, which woke Dan. The dog owner got out of bed to investigate and said he found an intruder, Thomas Lowell, in his living room trying to take his laptop. Even though Bonnie can't hear, Dan said, "She smelled him because she does have a very good sense of smell. And she jumped up and got all excited thinking someone was there to play." The perpetrator then took off with the computer.

“When he bolted, I think just in the confusion because as you can imagine, there’s probably a lot going on in his mind with, ‘How do I get out of this place?’ He doesn’t know it. It was dark and so he just turned in here and ran through the kitchen,” explained Dan. But it was that turn that sealed the suspect’s fate. Dan followed him with his gun and Thomas Lowell was trapped in the garage. Dan recalled, “There was a lot of, ‘I’m sorry’s. Uh, you know I mean he starts talking about he wants to get home and he wants to see his kid. Can I please let him go? I mean all the stuff you would do if you’re caught and you don’t want to go to jail.” But the police arrived soon after Dan’s girlfriend called 911 and the 25-year-old intruder was arrested and charged with burglary, criminal mischief, and possession of methamphetamine. Dan had left his home’s back door open for Bonnie to access the backyard, and he believes that’s how the suspect entered. The homeowner is happy there were no injuries during the melee and now says he will keep that door locked.

More information: KPTV

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Local business owner auctions vandal’s brick for $1,000

In response to the increased attention and concern for America's rising rates of obesity and diabetes, the food industry has responded by creating what they often refer to as "better-for-you" foods. These include, among other things: bags of dried fruit slices, organic bars and cookies, yogurts, smoothies, vegetable crisps, and, of course, baked, not fried, potato chips. In turn, these items have begun to replace the more traditional junk food found in our children's school vending machines.

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