odds and ends 2

Man who ran from police to run in benefit race for them

ALLENTOWN, Pa. -- A man who pleaded guilty to trying to flee police said he would run as part of his punishment.

In a plea bargain, Chad M. Eschbach, 21, agreed to run in a 5-kilometer race that will benefit the Schuylkill-Carbon Lodge of the Fraternal Order of Police.

Eschbach, of Lower Towamensing Township, pleaded guilty on Thursday to fleeing and eluding police in a July 27 chase in downtown Palmerton. He also pleaded guilty to marijuana possession.

Carbon County Judge Richard W. Webb asked Eschbach during the hearing if he was a runner.

"He will be, your honor," said District Attorney Gary F. Dobias, who will also participate in the race.

Police said they tried to stop Eschbach for driving with a burned-out headlight. But Eschbach drove away and then got out of the car and ran a short distance before being caught, police said.

Police said they found the ends of two marijuana cigarettes and rolling papers in his car.

Webb deferred sentencing Eschbach and ordered the county probation department to do a pre-sentencing investigation.

Pumpkin patch nets only 3 giant gourds

JAMESTOWN, N.Y. -- An upstate New York man's pumpkin patch only yielded three pumpkins this year. But that was more than enough.

One weighed 450 pounds, another about 800 pounds, and the third came in at 1,245 pounds, just 17 pounds shy of the world record.

Tim Bailey said he grew the large orange fruits from "Atlantic Giant" seeds, and gave them a lot of water and "organic matter."

Bailey recently trucked his big gourd to the World Pumpkin Confederation Weigh-Off in Clarence, near Buffalo. The pumpkin could not qualify for competition because of a small crack, meaning it had to be relegated to exhibition fruit class.

Bailey first became interested in large-pumpkin growing while talking with his brother-in-law, giant watermelon grower Dave Fisher. Bailey also grows giant sunflowers.

He self-pollinates the pumpkin blossoms for better results and limits the number grown per vine. The super pumpkin has a 5-foot circumference.

Bailey communicates with other giant pumpkin growers through the Internet and plans to sell and trade seeds from his big one.

--From wire reports