or else I’ll have to drive up there and take them myself! Actually, I probably will do exactly that since I’ll be there for Christmas anyway. It would be nice if someone took them for me before then though. *hint hint*

Glen Burnie mailbox maker reaches new heights

By LISA BEISEL Staff Writer

 

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King Kong has made an appearance in Glen Burnie.

But don’t worry – he’s in miniature.

The gorilla sits atop Ed Witles’ 7-foot replica of the Empire State Building that also serves as the mailbox for his Eastern Street home.

It’s a new high for Mr. Witles, who’s been the subject of Maryland Gazette stories before for creating mailboxes. He’s been doing it about two years, since he retired from his job as a steam fitter at Crownsville Hospital Center.

“A lot of people like the tower out there. They ride by and they look,” he said.

His latest work is one of about 50 to 75 he’s made over the last two years. Each one is lighted and many of them have moving parts.

His hobby takes up a huge amount of time, and he often spends 10 or 11 hours per day working on mailboxes.

“I had to do something instead of sitting around here and watching TV,” he said.

Nancy Bueche, his niece who cares for him, said she likes the hobby.

“It keeps him out of my hair,” she said with a laugh.

It’s no wonder people often stop to marvel. His mailboxes are less like the standard box and more like works of art. There’s a fire engine, a tug boat and several cars, a dump truck. There’s a pony, a dog, a couple airplanes, and a spaceship.
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Teens Face Dozens Of Charges In Mailbox-Smashing Spree

August 22, 2007

ANDERSON, S.C. — Eight teenagers face a total of 81 charges in a vandalism spree that left dozens of mailboxes smashed and street signs stolen.

Investigators said that the teens confessed to smashing dozens of mailboxes and taking the signs in Anderson and Abbeville counties.

One suspect even destroyed his grandmother’s mailbox, investigators told WYFF News 4.

Resident Bob Witherow said that he has had to to replace his mailbox three times in the past four years.

“All I’m asking for is to be able to live down here and not have my mailbox tore up. It’s expensive,” Witherow told WYFF News 4.

Investigators said that the suspects are expected to turn themselves in on Friday.

The teens are facing a combined $10,000 in fines plus restitution.

You can watch the video from the local news station for more.

I know I’ve joked around about some of the ugly mailboxes needing a good smashing, but I don’t honestly think anyone deserves this kind of juvenile vandalism.

There are a lot of stupid things I did as a teenager, but destroying someones personal property was never something I got any thrill doing. How about you? Confess. Ever tip a port-a-pottie or play mailbox baseball?

Cops save teen stuck in mailbox

Tuesday, July 17th 2007, 4:00 AM

A teenage boy climbed into a mailbox in Brooklyn yesterday and had to be rescued by police when the large green bin locked behind him, cops and neighbors said.

Rising to the challenge of a dare, the 16-year-old climbed into the box about 4:45 p.m. after his pals had shimmied it open at Avenue W and E. 27th St. in Sheepshead Bay.

Police freed him from the mailbox – used only by the U.S. Postal Service for storage – some 15 minutes later, police said. No charges were leveled against the teenagers.

“Kids will be kids, but I don’t think this is funny. It’s a big waste of city resources having cops out here because some dumb kid locked himself in a mailbox,” said 28-year-old Jason Irgang, a sales manager who lives nearby. “It’s not right. What if our mail got destroyed? The city should make it harder to open the green mailboxes.”

One cop at the scene couldn’t believe what had happened.

“I thought they were joking when they called here asking for the postal police,” she said.

It was unclear if the teen was acting on a double-dog dare.

Adam Edelman and Michael White