Free Republic

ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. — A 23-year-old college student from New Mexico is scheduled to go to trial for allegedly stealing a small pumpkin worth two dollars. KOAT-TV in Albuquerque, N.M., reports that Lauren Medina will go before a jury and Moriarity Magistrate Judge Steve Jones on Tuesday. She is accused of taking the pumpkin in October 2011 from McCall's Pumpkin Patch in Moriarty. Her sister, Annette Atencio, says Medina spent $75 on food that day but forgot to pay for the pumpkin she picked up as she was leaving. Atencio says her sister offered to pay but was refused and then...

MORIARTY — Matthew Schindele and Lauren Medina had a nice romantic date at McCall’s Pumpkin Patch last October to walk through the haunted barn and corn maze. But that date didn’t really end until Tuesday in Torrance County Magistrate Court where the Albuquerque pair, both in their early 20s and University of New Mexico students, were found guilty of shoplifting an item worth $250 or less. The heist? Pumpkins no larger than a volleyball and worth no more than $5. “It’s not the dollar amount we’re talking about,” Magistrate Steve Jones said. “We’re talking about something you took without paying...

STORMSTOWN — The Way Fruit Farm Fall Festival had a surprise pumpkin picker Saturday: Republican vice presidential candidate Sarah Palin. Palin made the unannounced visit with her youngest daughter, Piper, on her way from a rally in Johnstown to the University Park Airport, where her plane was taking off for Philadelphia. The visit was kept secret until seconds before John McCain’s “Straight Talk Express” bus rolled up and caught festivalgoers completely off guard. “I saw the bus come up, took a picture of it,” said State College resident Ty Arbutiski, who had come with his wife and kids to the...