Michigan Woman’s Secret Santa Turns Out to be Bill Gates

A Michigan woman got all she wanted for Christmas and then some when she discovered her Secret Santa was none other than Microsoft founder Bill Gates. Shelby, who has asked media outlets not to publish her last name, received an 81-pound package from Gates on Dec. 17 as part of a recent RedditGifts exchange. Users who participate in the social media platform’s exchange post information about themselves to provide potential Secret Santa personalized gift ideas, and Shelby has, herself, been a Secret Santa to 95 strangers over the years. She knew something odd was afoot, however, when she received a notification just before Christmas. So what exactly did Shelby receive from her billionaire Secret Santa?

According to the Detroit Free Press, Shelby’s massive haul included:

• Bill’s Deck of Books 2019

• A Harry Potter Santa hat

• The Legend of Zelda Hylian Shield earrings

• Handmade Zelda quilt

• A hammock with bug net

• Almond Roca

• Mint chocolates and other candy

• Toys for her cat

• Seven packs of assorted Oreos

• A cat-themed logic game

• Eight hardcover books

• A manuscript copy of “The Great Gatsby”

• A candle inscribed with a passage from “The Great Gatsby”

• Two adult-level LEGO sets: Harry Potter Microscale Hogwarts and the retired Star Wars UCS R2D2

• Twin Peaks gifts, including an embroidered L.L. Bean jacket worn by crew members during the second season of the show.

Florida Waitress Receives $2,000 Tip on Christmas Eve

A Florida waitress who had just depleted her bank account to make a car repair….received a two-thousand-dollar tip on Christmas Eve form regulars with whom she had shared her financial woes. Last month, Lynette Baio – who has worked at the Speggtacular Restaurant in Clearwater for five years – spent two-thousand dollars on a car repair, and the topic came up in conversation with the couple a few weeks ago. When they returned for dinner Christmas Eve, they left the check as a tip, along with a message that said, “Merry Christmas and restore your savings”.

Indiana Woman Arrested After Son, 5, Found Inside Running Washing Machine

An Indiana woman was charged with felony neglect after her 5-year-old son was found inside a running washing machine. 30-year-old Heather Oliver of Elwood, was arrested after the incident and charged with neglect of a dependent resulting in bodily injury, a level 5 felony. According to court documents, the boy arrived at an area hospital with his father around 10 a.m. Aug. 16. Hospital staff members reported the boy was drifting in and out of consciousness and had numerous bruises and scratches on his body. The mother had an initial hearing Dec. 19 and was released on bail the next day. The boy, in a forensic interview, told an interviewer her mother was “not nice,” according to court documents. The mother told police she didn’t know how the boy ended up in the washing machine but doctors at the hospital told police the boy’s injuries were “highly suspicious for non-accidental trauma.

Girl, 10, Dies of Suspected Heart Attack on plane at LAX, Officials Say

A child has died of a suspected cardiac arrest aboard a flight departing Los Angeles International Airport, multiple news outlets reported. Paramedics responded last night to render medical aid to the 10-year-old girl, but “all efforts were futile, and the child was beyond medical help,” the Los Angeles Fire Department said in an alert. The girl was on Delta Flight 2423 from LAX to Seattle when an unspecified medical emergency occurred. The plane turned around while still over Southern California to return to LAX, but the child was pronounced dead by paramedics upon landing. The Los Angeles Police Department will investigate the death.

Water Main Break at Kennywood Causes Food Stands to Close During ‘Holiday Lights’

A water main break caused major issues at Kennywood during its annual “Holiday Lights” festivities last night. Officials said the park did open as scheduled Thursday at 5 p.m. – hours after the water main break – but there was a delay in restoring service. Food stands, among other places at the park, were closed until water was fully restored hours later. Crews were making repairs to the line throughout the day. Officials didn’t say what caused the water main break, but some bathrooms were reportedly unusable, along with several popular food stands. Park attendees said they received vouchers to come back at a later date because of the water main break.

Flu Considered ‘Widespread’ Throughout PA., and it’s Hitting Our Area Hard

Flu season is in full swing, and according to the Pennsylvania Department of Health, no area has been hit harder than Western Pa. Health department officials said there are more than 3,000 confirmed flu cases since late September in Allegheny County alone – nearly four times than the next hardest hit county (Beaver: 772 cases).Next is Westmoreland County, with 692 cases. According to officials, laboratory-confirmed flu cases jumped 53% in the seven-county Pittsburgh area from Dec. 14 to Dec. 21. Flu cases increased from just over 3,600 to more than 5,500, the health department said.So far this year, there have been seven deaths in Pennsylvania connected to the flu, with all but one impacting a senior citizen. The state’s total of confirmed cases increased 61% in one week. The health department considers the flu “widespread” throughout the state, it’s highest level on the scale.

A New Year, Another Toll Increase on the Pennsylvania Turnpike

Drivers will once again be paying more to travel the Pennsylvania Turnpike. A 6% toll increase goes into effect on Jan. 5. The rate for E-ZPass customers will go up from $1.40 to $1.50 and from $2.30 to $2.50 for drivers using cash. To go from one border to the other, west to east, costs about $50 if using cash. Turnpike officials said the increases will not go into effect in January on the Beaver Valley Expressway, the Greensburg Bypass and the Gateway tolling point. Those locations saw increases back in October. Tolls have gone up each year since 2009 and will continue to increase until 2040. Turnpike officials said a large portion of the money raised from tolls goes back to the state to fix roads and bridges.

70-Year-Old Man Arrested After Double Shooting in Big Beaver Borough

A 70-year-old man was arrested in connection with a double shooting overnight Wednesday in Big Beaver. State police were called to a home on Fairlane Boulevard where two people were shot. State police said 70-year-old Rickey Neal of Koppel was arrested. He has been charged with two counts of aggravated assault, six counts of recklessly endangering another person and one count of possessing a firearm when he is not permitted to do so. He is being held in the Beaver County Jail on $200,000 bail. The conditions of the shooting victims are unknown at this time.

North Versailles Apartment Complex Fires Injures 2, displaces 15 residents

UNDATED (AP) — A fire at a North Versailles apartment complex has left two people injured and displaced more than a dozen residents. The blaze broke out early Friday at the Versailles Castle Apartments in North Versailles, causing thick smoke to pour out of windows and doorways. It caused heavy damage to one building, and at least two people were briefly trapped on a back porch there before emergency responders were able to rescue them. Both are expected to survive. The fire displaced about 15 people overall, and many of them were receiving help from the American Red Cross. The cause of the fire remains under investigation.