Serial killer terrorizes South Carolina town

Terrified residents of Gaffney, S.C., canceled Fourth of July plans and holed up in their homes Friday as investigators hunted a serial killer believed to have shot four people to death in the past week —- a furniture and appliance store owner, an elderly woman and her adult daughter, and a peach farmer. Officials haven’t determined how the victims are connected or if they knew who shot them. Residents have “their guard up and their gun handy,” said state Sen. Harvey Peeler (R-Gaffney). Gaffney is most famous for a giant water tank shaped like a peach that can be seen from I-85.

Missing fishermen rescued on Lake Erie

Four Michigan fishermen whose 19-foot boat capsized in western Lake Erie have been rescued. U.S. Coast Guard Petty Officer Brandon Blackwell says Monroe County marine deputies spotted the men clinging to the boat about 5:45 p.m. Friday. The men, between 52 and 76 years old, were receiving medical attention. The fishermen left Monroe at 8 a.m. Thursday. The Coast Guard was alerted about 10 p.m.

Elephants beat humans in bun-eating contest

In the fight of pachyderms vs. people —- the pachyderms now have the upper trunk. Circus elephants Bunny, Susie and Minnie, all in their 40s, scored a decisive victory over three human competitive eaters at a cross-species eating contest Friday, chomping down on 505 hot dog buns in six minutes. The humans forced down only 143 buns in the bout at Brooklyn’s Coney Island. The match was sponsored by Major League Eating and Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey. Contest organizers called the results a “setback for humanity.”

TV pitchman eulogized in hometown funeral

References to television pitchman Bill Mays’ trademark image were everywhere at his funeral Friday in his native town of McKees Rocks, Pa., near Pittsburgh. Most mourners wore stickers showing a cartoon image of his distinctive bearded face. The six pallbearers eschewed suits and instead wore bright blue button-down shirts like the ones Mays wore on TV. At the conclusion of the ceremony, they gave a “thumbs up,” just as Mays did at the end of one commercial.

Rookie cop makes first arrest in record time

A New York Police Department rookie just couldn’t wait to get started. One of the NYPD’s newest officers made his first arrest Thursday just minutes after graduating from the Police Academy in a ceremony at Madison Square Garden. Officer Dariel Firpo, 23, was leaving the midtown Manhattan ceremony when he saw a 79-year-old man being robbed of his wallet and thrown to the ground, police said. The mugger tried to run away, but Firpo caught him. Jeffrey Grant, 47, faces a robbery charge.

Man faces 10 years for sneaking gun onto plane

A Philadelphia man faces up to 10 years in prison after pleading guilty to boarding a US Airways flight while carrying a concealed weapon. Damien Young, 29, admitted Thursday sneaking a handgun into Philadelphia International Airport and onto a Phoenix-bound June 4. He allegedly had the help of his roommate, US Airways employee Roshid Milledge. Authorities say Young was moving to Phoenix and wanted to take his gun with him. Milledge is expected to plead guilty next week.