Overdue 90 Years, Book Returned: 7 Good News Stories And A Memorial

ACROSS AMERICA — “Youth and Two Other Stories” by Joseph Conrad is back at the public library in Larchmont, New York, 90 years after it was checked out.

The fine for an overdue book is 20 cents a day. The math is mind-boggling. At that rate, it would have cost just over $6,400 to return the book. The library caps fines at $5, though.

The overdue book arrived via mail from Virginia. It had been marked as lost after 30 days. “Youth and Other Stories” set a record for the longest overdue book, Larchmont Public Library Reference Librarian Liam Hegarty told Patch’s Jeff Edwards.

Joanie Morgan discovered the book among her stepfather Jimmie Ellis’ belongings. A writer and avid reader himself, he “no doubt encouraged his boys to read,” Morgan wrote in a letter accompanying the book. “They most likely borrowed books from Larchmont Public on a regular basis.” » A Patch Exclusive by Jeff Edwards for Larchmont-Mamaroneck Patch

‘Stronger And Braver’

Triple-negative breast cancer: It’s not a diagnosis anyone wants to hear, but it helped 36-year-old Murietta, California, ranch owner Jessica Wanhoff understand the pain that was going on in her body after three mammograms failed to detect what turned out to be stage three breast cancer. On the other side of surgery and treatment now, Wanhoff said she came out of the experience “knowing that I am a lot stronger and braver than I thought.” She said she shared her story to urge others to pay attention to their bodies despite the results of screenings like mammograms.» A Patch Exclusive by Ashley Ludwig for Murrieta Patch

Cat Changes Runner’s Course

Somewhere around mile 20 in last weekend’s Chicago Marathon, Sarah Bohan was reaching deep to work through the pain of a previous injury in the quest for a personal record. “It was a very quick pivot when I decided to be that person to turn around to care for that cat,” Bohan told Patch’s Jeff Arnold. “This was what my race was going to look like. … My focus just changed and to be honest, I wouldn’t change that for the world.” Bohan was running with the PAWS Chicago marathon team, and publicity surrounding the cat rescue increased donations to the no-kill shelter. » By Jeff Arnold for Chicago Patch

Cat Returns After 12 Years

Butters never did like staying home, and when he wandered away from his family’s San Diego home in 2011, they figured he had gone off and died. Butter turned up earlier this month and was reunited with his family, who had since moved to Washington. » By Anna Schier for Across California Patch

Snail Is A Parrothead

A tiny species discovered on a coral reef in the Florida Keys isn’t “wasting away in Margaritaville or anywhere else,” but its name does reference the song by the late singer and sailor Jimmy Buffet. The bright yellow snail was the color of a margarita, said lead researcher Rüdiger Bieler, a self-described “Parrothead.” His research team was “no stranger to the regional signature drink,” he said, “and of course, Jimmy Buffet’s Music.” » By Tiffany Razzano for Miami Patch

100-Year-old Shipwreck Discovered

The wreckage of the Huronton, a World War I-era freighter that sank 100 years ago, has been found on the floor of Lake Superior, according to the Great Lakes Shipwreck Historical Society. The ship was found in 800 feet of water, an extremely deep part of the Superior. The Huronton was empty on Oct. 11, 1923, when it was traveling up bound on Lake Superior in fog and smoke from forest fires. It crashed with the fully loaded bulk freighter Cetus. The doomed ship’s crew and their mascot, a bulldog, were rescued before the ship sank. » By Dylan Siwicki for Across Michigan Patch

In Memoriam

In last week’s roundup, we told you about Dorothy Hoffner, the 104-year-old Chicago woman who was still walking on air after becoming the oldest person ever to skydive. She died Sunday, just over a week after her record-setting skydive. “We’re honored that skydiving was perhaps a final thrill and thankful to have been a part of her exciting, well-lived life,” her family said in a statement. » By Jeff Arnold for Chicago Patch

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