SCOTTSBLUFF, Neb. (AP) – What do you get a European black vulture that has everything? Something dead, probably, but if you’re squeamish, check with the Riverside Zoological Society of Scottsbluff.

The society has set up a “Special Wishes Tree” at the zoo’s gift store. Its decorations have pictures of zoo animals on one side, a special request on the other.

“Pick your favorite furry, scaly or feathered zoo resident and find out what they would enjoy receiving during the winter season,” said Zoo Director Joe Clawson.

Among the requests:

For chimps – spices, peanut butter, sugar-free Jell-O or pudding, blankets or towels.

For birds – canned pet food, frozen shrimp, bird toys.

For big cats – Hot Bod after-shave, which Clawson says they find irresistible when dabbed here and there around their enclosures.

And for bison and zebra – push-broom heads to use as rubbing stations.

Foul politics lead to stinky prison

SANDY HOOK, Ky. (AP) – A new state prison that was at the heart of a political stink in Kentucky’s Capitol earlier this year is now creating its own smelly situation.

Waste from the Little Sandy Correctional Complex has been causing problems with the sewer system in the northeastern Kentucky town, generating foul odors that even local residents who fought to recruit the prison are complaining about.

“It’s awful,” said Kathryn Neece, who lives next door to the Sandy Hook United Methodist Church. “It even gets in our church on some Sundays.”

Residents of Sandy Hook, a town of 1,100 with chronically high unemployment, welcomed the $92 million prison because of the 224 jobs it created. But no one expected the stench.

“It’s a design problem,” said Maleva Chamberlain, spokeswoman for the Kentucky Division of Water. “The sewer lines were designed too big. They were designed for the prison at full capacity, plus for additional development in the area. So what happens, because there is not enough flow, the sewage sits there and goes septic.”

Local political leaders battled in Frankfort to get the prison and later to prevent a private company from operating it. In March, Gov. Ernie Fletcher announced it would be operated by the Kentucky Department of Corrections.

New bar built in dry district

AKRON, Ohio (AP) – The beer taps behind the bar at a northeast Ohio pub are sitting unused after the owner discovered he set up shop in a dry district.

More than $560,000 was invested in Legends Sports Pub & Grille in nearby Plain Township before owner Mike Bolognue learned from the state Division of Liquor Control that he couldn’t get a liquor license.

Bolognue said he plans to serve food until May, when voters can decide whether to approve alcohol sales. The pub opened Nov. 16.

“We’re the only sports bar in the world, we think, that doesn’t sell alcohol,” Bolognue said.

The pub serves breakfast, which wasn’t originally planned, and focuses on specials like steak and hamburgers to drive food sales. At another Legends bar Bolognue operates, 60 percent of revenue comes from alcohol sales.

The liquor control agency routinely accepts applications while still researching whether a license can be issued, spokesman Matt Mullins said. The agency didn’t learn the area was alcohol-free until well after it began the process, he said.

TV hero ends up in real-life fracas

HUDSON FALLS, N.Y. (AP) – Banana Boy’s superpowers weren’t enough to help him and the rest of his bunch give police the slip.

The local television character, who goes by the name Chris Phelps when he’s not donning his superhero’s large yellow banana crime-fighting costume, was arrested Thursday at gunpoint along with two others when police mistook their skit for a real-life knife fight.

Phelps, 20, his brother Jonathan and friend Luke Van Scoy were in a parking lot filming their television show “The Ravacon,” which chronicles the adventures of Banana Boy.

During the skit, Banana Boy was attacked by Van Scoy with a prop knife just as Washington County Sheriff’s Deputy Shawn Lovelace was driving down the street.

“He’s stabbing him,” bystanders yelled as Lovelace got out of his patrol car.

Unaware the melee was staged, Lovelace drew his handgun and ordered Banana Boy and his colleagues to the ground.

Police said Banana Boy and the others were charged with disorderly conduct for snarling traffic and not informing police they were going to be filming.

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