News Briefs: August 23

Firing at the Fire Department
Another reason not to ride with a gun

A teenage boy in Phoenix accidentally shot himself while riding his bike last Tuesday. The boy, whose name was not released because of his age, had the gun in his pocket when it fired. The rogue bullet injured the boy before ricocheting into a nearby fire station door.

Captain Manny Martinez of the Phoenix Fire Department told Phoenix's CBS 5 News, "We were really lucky. The hole was directly in line with the fire truck and more specifically, where the engineer normally sits."

The teen will have to answer questions from local law enforcement when he's released from the hospital.

Marin Bikes Repairs Damage by Mongolian Horseman
12,000-mile voyage nearly cut short

A Mongolian horseman recently halted Edward Genochio's cycling trip through Asia. While the British rider waited for a Chinese Visa in Mongolia's capital city of Ulan Bator, the Mongolian lassoed Genochio's touring bike and galloped away dragging the Marin behind him. Genochio's tent was attached to the bike and was also lost in the ordeal.

"It was a rude awakening to say the least," Genochio told BBC News. "I was woken up by the sounds of galloping hooves and tearing canvas."

Fortunately, Marin Bikes and London's Condor bike shop heard about the tragedy and shipped a new bike. Genochio can now finish the last 2,000-miles of his 12,000-mile journey from Exeter, United Kingdom, to Shanghai, China.

Haunted Olympic Mountain Bike Course?
Strange happenings in Athens

Parts of the Olympic mountain bike course burst into flames last Friday, leaving 10-percent of the trail ruined. Twenty-eight fire engines, four firefighting planes, two helicopters and teams of firefighters put out the wildfire, but 600-meters of singletrack were lost. Fortunately, strong winds pushed the blaze away from important buildings. It looks as though sparks from a wire-cutting tool started the fire, but authorities have not ruled out arson. A Greek newspaper reported that both the wire-cutting employee and his superior were taken into custody. The damage forced race officials to shorten the course and the men's race this Saturday will likely be seven, shorter laps instead of the original six.

Three days after the strange fire, on the same course, a Greek soldier was shot and killed. According to a police statement, police cadet Christos Chloros, 20, shot Antonios Syrou, 25, while the two were pointing service revolvers at each other. The incident occurred Monday, just before dawn, while the two were on patrol. Apparently they were playing a game of Russian roulette. Chloros faces charges regardless of whether it was intentional or not.

Hopefully the streak of bad luck and strange events ends before the women take the course this Saturday.

The Clear Favorite of the Northwest
Drunken black bear prefers Rainier beer

A black bear in Washington State tore into camper's coolers and pounded 36 cans of Rainier beer. When State Fish and Wildlife agents tried to capture the bear, he climbed a tree and slept until sober. The coolers also contained Busch beer, but the bear reportedly couldn't finish the single one that he opened, preferring the locally made Rainier.

The following day wildlife officials lured the bear with donuts, honey and, of course, Rainier beer. He fell for the bait, was captured and relocated, but it's probably just a matter of time before the Rainier marketing team retrieves him from the wilderness.

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