THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Wednesday, March 1, 1995 TAG: 9503010050
SECTION: DAILY BREAK PAGE: E3 EDITION: FINAL
TYPE: Column
SOURCE: Larry Maddry
LENGTH: Medium: 70 lines
MOST UNUSUAL STORY OF THE MONTH INVOLVING A VAMPIRE AND A COMMON HOUSEHOLD TOOL.
The entries are in and the award goes to the Associated Press for the following story dated Feb. 22, 1995:
WYTHVILLE, Va. (AP) - A suicidal man who claimed to be a vampire was taken to a state mental hospital, authorities said.
The man had a hammer and screwdriver and tried to kill himself Sunday by hammering the screwdriver - in lieu of the traditional wooden stake mentioned in vampire myth - into his chest, Wythe County Sheriff Wayne Pike said.
The injury was not life-threatening, Pike said.
The man, who was not identified, was treated for the injury at Wythe County Community Hospital and taken to Southwestern Virginia Mental Health Institute in Marion.
Probably another case of the February blues.
OPENING THE MAIL. A recent column on wishing for snow has convinced me there are a lot of snow lovers like me out there.
Nice letter here from Inez Jones of Youlous Avenue in Virginia Beach who writes:
``I have a 3 1/2-foot Christmas tree that remains decorated year-round. Whenever there is a snowfall, the tree is removed from the closet. I then place it in the bay window in my bedroom where I enjoy viewing the snow along with my lighted tree.'' Thanks, Inez.
Here's another snow lover, Elizabeth Campbell of Westminster Canterbury in Virginia Beach, who also liked the column. Liz has enclosed a trivia item that says ``Giant snowflakes almost 5 inches across fell on Berkhamsted, England on April 13, 1951.'' Interesting.
Hmmm. Bet they looked like gi-yunt biscuits dropping out of the sky.
Letters are still coming from readers irked by redundancies. Elizabeth Weber of Ocean View Avenue in Norfolk has mailed us a few that irritate her. I've been guilty of two (I was about to add ``of them'' before catching myself). Anyway here's her short list:
advance planning
assembled together
continue on
consensus of opinion
revert back
each and every
reiterate again.
same identical
HISTORY'S RAT NEST. The Associated Press says a pair of historical architects in Winston-Salem, N.C. claim they have learned much about Stratford Hall - Robert E. Lee's family home in Stratford, Va., - by looking at rat nests there.
Charles Phillips and Joseph Oppermann said they find important things that way.
In a single nest they found pieces of blue-and-white salt-glaze ceramics, bits of a blue-and-white coverlet, some gilded and multicolored upholstery leather, bits of pigs' ribs, oyster shells and corncobs.
They also found a little paper book like a tutor would have made for a student. On its cover was written ``Lee my book.''
``Unfortunately, the rodent had nibbled on the book a little bit and got the initials,'' Phillips said.
PARENTAL ANTIDOTE. Columnist George Tucker dropped the following flier on my desk:
Children. Tired of being harassed by your stupid parents? Act Now! Move out, Get-A-Job, Pay Your own Bills, While you still know everything. by CNB