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MINNESOTA COMPANY SNUBS TIME CHANGE BY REMOVING CLOCKS
MAPLEWOOD, Minn. (AP) — While most everyone wishes they could turn back time, one of the largest corporations in the country is sick of it.
Minnesota-based 3M is taking advantage of the end of daylight saving time and removing about 1,000 wall clocks at its 400-acre Maplewood campus. For decades, nearly two dozen people worked in 12-hour shifts for two weekends a year to adjust the time and put in new batteries.
Plant engineering supervisor Tom Berg tells Minnesota Public Radio that the cost of the time changes averaged about $35,000 a year. Berg says this is a way for the company to be more efficient and get rid of something it doesn't need.
A few of the timepieces are being donated and the rest recycled.
CHICK-FIL-A BACKS SUNDAY'S NATIONAL SANDWICH DAY _ OOPS!
ATLANTA (AP) — Everyone who is a fan of Chick-fil-A knows that the chicken chain is closed on Sundays, in keeping with its founder's Christian faith.
But the Georgia-based fast-food chain apparently forgot about that when it sent an email to some of its loyalty members this week.
"Calling all sandwich lovers," the email said. "Some prefer it grilled, others fancy the original. No matter which Chick-fil-A sandwich you love, order yours on November 3 for National Sandwich Day."
But, there’s just one problem, November 3rd was on a Sunday this year.
Another email followed Thursday with the subject, "Well ... this is awkward." The company says it was excited about National Sandwich Day and didn't realize it fell on a Sunday this year.
A Chick-fil-A spokeswoman says the whole situation was just an inadvertent mistake.
'WIZARD ROCK' THAT DISAPPEARED FROM ARIZONA FOREST RETURNS
PRESCOTT, Ariz. (AP) — A boulder that mysteriously disappeared two weeks ago from a national forest in Arizona is back, and forest officials aren't asking any questions.
Prescott National Forest officials said a forest employee on patrol Friday noticed that the 1-ton boulder dubbed "Wizard Rock" had been returned to a site along State Route 89 south of Prescott.
The much-admired boulder is black with streaks of white quartz running through it.
A District Ranger said forest officials were thrilled that the rock was returned and grateful that whoever took it was conscientious enough to give it back to the public.
According to forest officials, it would have required heavy equipment to move the boulder.
Permits are required to gather and remove most forest products, including rocks, plants and trees.
'CHALKBUS' INSPIRES DRAWINGS AND CONNECTIVITY
AMERICAN FORK, Utah (AP) — A VW bus painted like a black chalkboard is inspiring creative drawings and bringing people together in American Fork, Utah.
No matter where he parks the 'chalkbus,' owner Jonathan Sherman says he comes back to find great new art adorning the sides.
The Daily Herald reports that the story behind the bus inspired a documentary by college students at Utah Valley University.
Sherman also lets bands cram into the bus to play music while he drives around town.
Sherman is a licensed marriage and family therapist. He says the bus seems to provide something people are missing by connecting people.
BOOK RETURNS SURGE 240% AFTER CHICAGO ELIMINATES FINES
CHICAGO (AP) — A Chicago official says hundreds of overdue books have been returned in the three weeks since the city eliminated overdue fines at public libraries.
The City’s Library Commissioner told City Council members last week that the number of returned books has increased by 240%. On Oct. 1, Chicago became the nation's largest major city to eradicate overdue library fees.
The Commissioner said people who owe fines can be afraid to go to the library because they can't afford to pay the fines and that those fines can lead to loss of books and patrons.
CHICAGO DENTIST GETS PHONE BILL TOTALING OVER $180,000
CHICAGO (AP) — A Chicago dentist says her office received a phone bill for more than $180,000 for hundreds of international calls she never made.
WBBM-TV reports that Dr. Rosa Galvan-Silva first received a bill from AT&T for more than $81,000 that listed more than 100 calls that were made to the United Kingdom. Some calls went as long as two hours.
The dentist's next AT&T bill totaled more than $183,000.
The company investigated at Galvan-Silva's office but couldn't resolve the issue there. It appears that fraudsters had accessed her phone system and made the unauthorized calls.
Galvan-Silva later received a letter from AT&T's fraud resolution group offering a settlement and asking her to pay $831 plus fees and taxes.
After the TV station contacted the company, AT&T agreed to wipe the charges.
GERMAN SWINGERS' CLUB EVACUATED AFTER CARBON MONOXIDE ALARM
BERLIN (AP) — Authorities say a swingers' club in western Germany had to be evacuated mid-party after a carbon monoxide alarm went off and several guests reported feeling unwell.
Firefighters in the town of Hattingen, told the dpa news agency Sunday that about 300 swingers were brought to safety after the alarm went off late Saturday night.
The swingers, many clad in just bathrobes as they left the club, were taken on buses to be examined by first aid workers. About ten complained of feeling unwell and needed treatment.
The fire department says no dangerous levels of carbon monoxide were detected once they had arrived. In all, about 160 emergency workers were involved.
MEXICAN AGENTS FIND HEROIN INSIDE TAMARIND CANDY
MEXICO CITY (AP) — In a find that gives a new dimension to "trick or treat," Mexican agents inspecting a package being sent to England found 59 rolls of tamarind-flavored candy with heroin inside.
The National Guard said Friday that agents used x-rays to inspect a cardboard box headed for an address in London.
When they opened the box, they found a black substance at the center of each roll. Mexican-produced heroin is often referred to "black tar," because it is processed differently than white or tan powder heroin.
The candy is made of tamarind pulp, which is normally reddish-brown in color. Tests later confirmed the substance was heroin.
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