Ban on size, number of snakes defeated

MURRIETA, Calif. -- A proposal to put the squeeze on pet snakes has slithered by.

Some residents in this southern California community couldn't charm the City Council into restricting the size, type and number of snakes a resident can own. The board voted against the proposed law Tuesday.

"If it ain't broke, don't fix it," Councilman Brian Youens said. "We have no problem in our jurisdiction, so why do we expect there to be in the future?" Councilman Warnie Enochs proposed the ordinance after receiving a few calls from residents concerned about several large snakes owned by a neighbor. The law would have limited snakes to 5 feet long, prohibited venomous snakes and outlawed a large number of snakes.

But council members said there was no way to enforce such an ordinance and the law would unfairly target snake owners.

"You don't own a dog and then when it gets over a certain level, start chopping pieces off," Councilman Kelly Seyarto said. "You are asking these people to own a pet for a time, then have to get rid of it."

Neighbors in flap over flag-waving

CHESTERFIELD TOWNSHIP, Mich. -- It's a flap over a flapping flag.

A man who installed a 50-foot flag poll after the Sept. 11, 2001, terror attacks was ticketed after a neighbor said the flag's flapping made too much noise.

Ray Saelens says the sight and sound of an American flag whipping in the wind has special meaning.

"To me, the noise of the flag is the voices of everyone who's died for this country," the 51-year-old mason told The Macomb Daily of Mount Clemens for a story Thursday.

But next-door neighbor Mark Grucz complained, saying the flapping of the flag bothered him, and police issued Saelens a warning.

In response, Saelens switched to a polyester flag designed to be quieter. "Never in a million years did I think I would bother someone by flying a flag," he said.

On Monday, a police officer cited him for violating the local noise ordinance.

"He could hardly look me in the eye," Saelens said.

Township police spokesman Jim Gates said the dispute was unprecedented, and the department had no choice but to issue a ticket when someone complains about noise.

It is up to the court to decide between the neighbors, he said.

Meanwhile, Saelens says he will fight to keep the flag flying.

"You're going to have to pry it out of my hands," he said.

Student eat chips, collects 3,500 bags for points

MUNISING, Mich. -- The past year has been crunch time for Munising High School junior Alex Johnson.

He ate a bag of Cheetos every day at lunch, and collected empty bags from classmates. His locker eventually became stuffed with 3,500 bags from the cheese-flavored snacks -- each of them worth one gift point.

One of Johnson's teachers sent an e-mail to Cheetos manufacturer Frito-Lay Corp.

"They liked it so much, they sent somebody here," said Johnson, 17.

That someone turned out to be Chester Cheeto, a costumed cartoon figure and the point character in Cheetos marketing and advertising.

Chester appeared at a pep rally for the basketball team, and presented Johnson with a scrolled declaration proclaiming him an "honorary deputy of cheese."

"I think it's unusual and funny that this has actually happened," Johnson said. "It's kind of cheesy."

Johnson hasn't decided what he would redeem his Cheetos gift points for. "Whatever the biggest thing is," he said.

--From wire reports