KEENE, N.H. (AP) – Gabe Gries, a fisheries biologist with the New Hampshire Fish and Game Department, plans to drop dozens of recycled Christmas trees into lakes, where they’ll become “habitat improvement structures” where fish can hide and find food.

An upright tree provides the most exposed surface area for the fish, so Gries is figuring out how to drop the trees from a small boat and anchor them so they stay vertical. If the trees need more adjustments, Gries or another biologist will have to swim down and straighten them out.

The project is part of a state fisheries habitat restoration program, and is paid for with money raised from fishing licenses. Gries said the trees won’t necessarily increase the total number of fish in a lake but may give them more attractive places to live.

Audit: Ex-mayor spent city funds questionably’

OSWEGO, N.Y. (AP) – Former Mayor John Gosek spent $3,500 in city funds for “questionable or unnecessary expenses” – including $25 at a Hooters restaurant in 2003 when he was supposed to be attending a conference – according to an audit released Tuesday.

Gosek, resigned earlier this year after being accused of trying to solicit sex from underage girls in exchange for money and drugs, spent $1,000 on meals and drinks while attending conferences that supplied food and drink as part of registration, according to the audit by state Comptroller Alan G. Hevesi.

Lucky parishioner to get $120K home from Texas church

LA MARQUE, Texas (AP) – In a game show-style giveaway, a church plans to award a $120,000 three-bedroom house to one of its worshippers on New Year’s Eve.

Since 2003, Abundant Life Christian Center has given away a car, a motorcycle and furniture, but this year the lure is a house.

“It encourages people to come to the service, and it helps keep people off the street with all that revelry going on,” Pastor Walter Hallam said.

At Saturday’s service, 20 names will be selected at random and placed with 100 others chosen from services throughout the year. Twelve finalists – symbolizing the 12 apostles – will be selected.

Each will receive a key, which they’ll try in a door on stage. The person whose key unlocks the door wins the home. Music, indoor fireworks and balloon drops will also be part of the festivities.

Once people attend the New Year’s Eve service, the hope is they’ll keep coming once they realize “church is perhaps not as bad as they remember when they were young,” said Justin West, the church’s director of operations.

A parishioner built the house and charged the church $53,000 for materials. It should be completed next month; the winner will be responsible for closing costs and property taxes.