2nd sword stolen from Gettysburg

Harrisburg, Pa. A bronze sword was stolen this week from a monument at Gettysburg National Military Park, the second such theft in a little over four months.

The sword was pried or broken off a stone monument to the 8th Pennsylvania Cavalry dedicated in 1890, probably vanishing between Monday and Wednesday, the National Park Service said. The first sword was reported missing Sept. 15 from a bronze sculpture of Brig. Gen. Alexander Hays, dedicated in 1915.

Replacing the swords and repairing damage could cost as much as $4,200, Katie Lawhon, a park service spokeswoman, said Friday.

Cops: Man rams ex-wife’s car, stabs her

Fort Smith, Ark. A man plowed head-on into his ex-wife’s car at a busy intersection Friday, then jumped out of his vehicle and stabbed her to death as bystanders tried to stop the attack by beating him with crowbars, police said.

Investigators said the victim’s sister and a 2-year-old child were also in the car, but they were not harmed.

The killing followed an incident earlier Friday involving the man and woman, police said. Authorities said the man, Thomas Springs, tried to pull the couple’s child out of school but left after police arrived.

Mom held sex parties with teens, cops say

Arvada, Colo. A 40-year-old woman held sex and drug parties with teenage boys, telling police she wanted to be a “cool mom,” authorities say.

Sylvia Johnson allegedly provided marijuana, methamphetamine and alcohol to eight boys at parties she hosted at her suburban Denver home in 2003 and 2004. According to court papers, she admitted having sex with five of the boys.

One boy told his mother and Johnson was arrested in December and charged with sexual assault and contributing to the delinquency of a minor.

According to court papers, Johnson told investigators she was not popular in high school and had finally started “feeling like one of the group.”

“She described herself as a ‘cool mom,’ ” police said.

Authorities did not say how many children she has or whether any of them were at the parties.

Store can’t survive religious conversion

Putney, Ky. A man whose religious conversion prompted him to turn his adult novelty shop into a Christian bookstore is giving up because of poor sales.

“When you’ve done all you can do, you turn it over into God’s hands,” said Mike Braithwaite, who recently put the store and five surrounding acres up for sale for $55,000.

Braithwaite had a conversion in 2002 after he was booked on charges of distributing obscene materials at his Love World store. He decided to burn all the leather gear, rubber playthings and other naughty merchandise and convert his business into a Bible bookstore named Mike’s Place. The obscenity charges were dropped.

But Braithwaite said many people from this religious community will not shop in a place that was once an adult novelty store.

The Rev. John Ditty, pastor of Harlan Baptist Church, said Mike’s Place may be the victim of department stores that can sell Bibles at lower prices.

Braithwaite said he is glad he changed, even if he loses the store.

“What does it profit a man to gain the whole world, and lose his own soul?” Braithwaite asked, quoting a Bible verse.