Cable Briefs (Press, 13 November 1989)

On 13 November 1989, a variety of news stories were reported, highlighting events occurring around the world. One notable event was the seventh annual Short Fat Guys' Road Run held in Skaneateles, New York. This unique five-kilometre downhill race drew attention for its unconventional approach, as participants were allowed to use trucks to navigate any uphill portions. The event, which had been cancelled the previous year due to "an unfortunate diet and fitness epidemic," attracted competitors based on a requirement that their waists must be at least 10cm larger than their in-seams. Organiser Dick Perry stated that participants would be carefully measured prior to the event. The race's relief stations featured appealing refreshments such as beer, pastries, candies, and cigars. In another story, the rock band Crosby, Stills and Nash performed a benefit concert in Santa Cruz, California, to assist in relief efforts following an earthquake that damaged the city on 17 October. The concerts raised more than US$21,000 (approximately NZ$36,206) for local aid agencies and took place at the Catalyst Nightclub, located near the devastated Pacific Garden Mall, where substantial damage occurred and three fatalities were reported. In Malaysia, a tragic incident saw a military helicopter crash in a northern region, resulting in the death of all 21 people on board. The Nuri helicopter was carrying three Air Force officers, 15 police personnel, one officer's wife, and two children when it disappeared in forested hilly terrain between Bilah and Gerah. The wreckage was later found, and no survivors were reported. A military-related story from the United States involved a collision between a Navy destroyer and a merchant ship in the Strait of Malacca, near Singapore. The incident resulted in one American sailor’s death and injuries to four others. Following the crash, several fires ignited aboard the destroyer but were quickly put out. The merchant vessel suffered significant damage, although there were no injuries reported among its crew. In a more somber account, Craig Spence, a lobbyist embroiled in a Washington sex scandal under federal investigation, was found dead in his hotel room in Boston. Spence, aged 49, had reportedly barricaded himself inside the Ritz-Carlton Hotel room, leading firefighters to use a saw to enter. Details surrounding his death were not disclosed by authorities. Spence had previously made headlines as a client of a homosexual escort service being scrutinised by federal agencies, and he faced legal troubles earlier in the year, including a felony weapons charge and a misdemeanor drug possession charge. These events capture a diverse snapshot of newsworthy happenings, along with the humour and tragedy intertwined in the stories of the day.

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