Odds & Ends

Longest sundae

LUDINGTON, MICH. (AP) >> Guinness World Records says a roughly half-milelong ice cream sundae that was gobbled up in Michigan this June was the longest ever.

The Ludington Daily News reports that the sundae measuring a little over 2,970 feet in length and fed thousands of people lining eight blocks in the Lake Michigan town.

House of Flavors organized the ice cream event in Ludington, 100 miles northwest of Grand Rapids.

According to Guinness, the previous longest icecream dessert was created in 2015 in Manurewa, New Zealand, and it was 1,957 feet and 1 inch.

Ludington’s record may be short-lived, however. MLive.com reports Mooville Creamery and others in Nashville, Michigan, tried to break the record Sept. 17, making a dessert that spanned 3,656 feet.

Lucky penny

DETROIT (AP) >> Stopping to pick up a stray penny off the ground may not seem worth the effort, yet one bank is trying to change that mindset by placing 100 fake pennies across the country worth $1,000 apiece.

Ally Bank says it is hoping to encourage Americans to look for opportunities to save through its “Lucky Penny” promotion, which launched this week. The lucky pennies carry a copper color like real pennies, but feature the Detroit- based bank’s logo instead of Abraham Lincoln’s head. The flip side of the coin lists its value at 100,000 cents.

The pennies have been placed in New York, Los Angeles, Chicago, Washington, D.C., Miami, Denver, Detroit, San Diego, Charlotte, North Carolina, and Austin, Texas.

The coins can be re- deemed online until the end of the year.

Clowns banned

DEKALB, MISS. (AP)>> A Mississippi county has had enough of the creepy clown craze, at least until after Halloween.

Kemper County supervisors this week banned people from wearing any clown costume, mask or makeup in public. The local law carries a $150 penalty, and it will be lifted Nov. 1.

The Kemper County Messenger reports that supervisors President Johnny Whitsett says it’s a matter of public safety because people could react badly if they get scared by a clown in their yard.

The county along the Alabama line has a population of about 10,000.

Lee Rowland, an American Civi l Liber t ies Union attorney in New York, says the First Amendment protects most clothing choices. She also says it’s “a ridiculous use of government authority .... to dictate which Halloween costumes people can wear.”

ERIN LEFÈVRE — MUSKEGON CHRONICLE — ASSOCIATED PRESS, FILE In this June 11, 2016file photo, an ice cream sundae is completed during the world record attempt for the longest ice cream dessert along eight city blocks in Ludington, Mich.

ALLY BANK VIA ASSOCIATED PRESS This photo provided by Ally Bank shows a fake penny that is part of Ally Bank’s “Lucky Penny” promotion.