Auditor Checks Book for Cornucopia of Cooking Calls

Patrick W. Moore, an audit investigator in Richmond, Va., is learning to talk turkey. Moore, whose phone number is similar to one for a turkey cooking hot line organized by Butterball of Swift Eckrich Inc., has decided to offer turkey tips to people who call him by mistake. “Normally, all my calls are from branches concerning home mortgage regulations and real estate laws,” he said. “This adds a little spice to an auditing job.” Moore, 24, even called the hot line and asked for the cookbook so he can offer better tips. Until then, he said, he is suggesting a stuffing made of onion, celery, corn bread and uncooked popcorn.

--Sometimes it seemed that John, Gene and Tony McClanaghan had three times the problems of others in the Navy. The 6-foot-1 18-year-olds are the first identical triplets to go through basic training at Florida’s Orlando National Training Center since it was founded in 1968, officials believe. During basic training, fellow recruits often awakened the wrong man for guard duty and commanders sometimes bawled out the wrong brother. Chief Petty Officer David Therre, the triplets’ company commander, gave up and dubbed them Larry, Curly and Moe. The brothers, from Charlevoix, Mich., nearly missed out on naval careers. Recruiter Chief Petty Officer Ron Hoffman thought someone was playing a joke on him when each brother signed up in a different month. Thinking that the same man had come in three times, Hoffman insisted that the triplets show up together before he would sign them up for a six-year stint that will allow them to remain together through nuclear power training.

--A 5-year-old boy who passed up a prize bicycle for $50 to buy food for his family has received his bicycle and more. Mike Robles of Odessa, Tex., was given a choice of the bike, a radio or the money for winning an attendance contest at Fannin Early Education Center. With his father laid off, Mike chose the $50 check. As word spread, people across the state offered help, including a bicycle for Mike and Christmas gifts for the family. Job offers came in for Mike’s father, Rafael, who now has a construction job. The Robles are caring for five nieces and nephews as well as their two children.