American Scene

NEW JERSEY

Custody denied for Nazi-naming parents

TRENTON — A New Jersey couple who gave their children Nazi-inspired names should not regain custody of them, a state appeals court ruled Thursday, citing the parents’ own disabilities and the risk of serious injury to their children.

The state removed Heath and Deborah Campbell’s three small children from their home in January 2009.

A month earlier, the family drew attention when a supermarket refused to decorate a birthday cake for their son, Adolf Hitler Campbell. He and siblings JoyceLynn Aryan Nation Campbell and Honszlynn Hinler Jeannie Campbell have been in foster care.

A family court earlier determined that there was insufficient evidence that the parents had abused or neglected the children. That decision was stayed until the appeals court could review it.

On Thursday, the three-judge appeals panel determined that there was enough evidence and that the children should not be returned.

NEW YORK

Eating champ avoids jail time

NEW YORK — Japanese eating champion Takeru Kobayashi is out of hot water after his arrest over a Fourth of July frank fracas.

A judge in Brooklyn said Thursday that the case will be purged from Mr. Kobayashi’s record if he stays out of trouble for six months. A relieved and jovial Mr. Kobayashi, 32, said afterward that he would.

“I’ve been up all night, nervous about the outcome,” he said through an interpreter. “So now, I’m thinking about what I want to eat. … Steak.”

His legal trouble started when a contract dispute kept him out of the annual Nathan’s Famous Fourth of July International Hot Dog Eating Contest, but he showed up anyway.

His attorney, Mario D. Romano, said his client was waved onstage after spectators began chanting, “Let him eat.”

“Shortly after he got on the stage, he was grabbed from behind by officers,” Mr. Romano said.

Mr. Kobayashi had been charged with obstruction of governmental administration, resisting arrest, trespassing and disorderly conduct.

NORTH CAROLINA

’Deadbeat tenants’ painted on home

CHARLOTTE — A landlord fed up with tenants who didn’t pay their rent painted her criticism on the garage for all to see.

WBTV reported that landlord Vanessa McCants spray-painted the words “deadbeat tenants” on a Charlotte house she rents to Shanae Jackson.

Ms. McCants said she hasn’t been paid the $1,300 monthly rent for two months and she’s losing the home to foreclosure.

Ms. Jackson admits she’s not paying the rent but said she can’t afford both the rent and moving expenses.

Ms. Jackson called police after painting over the critique on the side of the home’s garage. Police refused to charge Ms. McCants because spray-painting your own property is not a crime.

OHIO

Court-martial set in sex allegations

CINCINNATI — The Air Force ordered court-martial proceedings for an Ohio-based chief master sergeant accused of repeated sexual harassment of female subordinates, including inappropriate touching and sending explicit text messages.

William Gurney, a 27-year veteran, will be tried Dec. 6 at Scott Air Force Base in Illinois, the Air Force said Thursday. Mr. Gurney had been the top-ranking enlisted man at the Air Force Materiel Command at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base near Dayton when the allegations surfaced last year.

A military judge heard testimony at Wright-Patterson in May that included allegations of extramarital relations, inappropriate touching, and sending sexually oriented text messages involving nine Air Force women.

The Air Force said he will face 20 counts including wrongful sexual contact, adultery, maltreatment of subordinates and dereliction of duty by misuse of his position. Mr. Gurney also is charged with misusing government property for allegedly sending numerous sexual messages and photos with his military-issued phone.

PENNSYLVANIA

Odor complaints shut down brewery

LATROBE — A brewery is being blamed for a town’s bad case of beer breath.

City Brewing Co. has temporarily halted production at its plant in Latrobe after residents complained of a foul odor coming from the municipal sewage plant. Officials suspect sugary drinks now being produced at the brewery are causing wastewater treatment problems.

Municipal authority manager Tom Gray said the stench started about two weeks ago. The Department of Environmental Protection received complaints, prompting it to send an inspector before the brewery shut down Tuesday.

Plant manager Jerry Alvery said City Brewing wants to be a good neighbor.

The Latrobe plant used to brew Rolling Rock beer. Now, Iron City beer is among the beverages it produces.

VIRGINIA

Boy Scout staffer dies at Jamboree

BOWLING GREEN — A 67-year-old Boy Scouts of America staff member was found dead in the final days of the Boy Scout Jamboree.

Boy Scouts spokesman Deron Smith said Thursday that the man, a volunteer from Stillwater, Okla., was found unresponsive Wednesday morning after going to bed the previous night.

Caroline County Sheriff Tony Lippa said a preliminary investigation indicates the man died of natural causes. His body was taken to the state medical examiner’s office in Richmond.

No other details about the victim were released Thursday.

• From wire dispatches and staff reports