COOKIE SUPER SELLER

DETROIT (AP) -- Jennifer Sharpe is one sharp cookie -- when it comes to selling Girl Scout Cookies. The 15-year-old from Dearborn, Michigan, sold more than 17,000 boxes of cookies. Jennfier was on a street corner with her mom everyday selling Thin Mints, Do-Si-Dos and the rest of the cookie line. Pam Sharpe, Jennifer's mother and troop leader, says the sales effort helped build her daughter's confidence. She says at first Jennifer was shy and quiet but came out of her shell selling the cookies. National Girl Scout officials say there is no cookie sale record on the books, but Jennifer's effort is amazing. Jennifer's Troop 813 will use their portion of the cookie sale money for a trip to Europe.

GAS PRICES-SCOOTERS

PIERRE, S.D. (AP) -- Joan Kohler has found a way to scoot around high gas prices -- with a motor scooter. The 51-year-old South Dakota restaurant owner bought a candy-apple red Honda scooter last week. Kohler says her family was nervous about her new mode of transportation but she's promised to be careful. Kohler says she loves the 100 miles per gallon she gets on the little Honda. And she's not alone. Scooter dealers across the country say interest and sales are way up, as gas prices continue to rise.

51-CENT TAX BILL

BRIGHTON, Mich. (AP) -- Dr. Phil Kazanji can't believe he got a property tax bill for 51 cents. It cost the city of Brighton, Michigan, more than five bucks just to send it to him by certified mail. Kazanji figured it must have been a mistake. But city officials confirm the four-bit tax bill is the real thing. They say Kazanji was short 48 cents on his payment. Plus, the city penalized him three cents. Now, Kazanji calls his penny-ante tax bill "ridiculous." He adds he'll drop off a check for the 51 cents.

GIANT BEETLES SEIZED

PHILADELPHIA (AP) -- Customs agents are cracking down on the beetles. No, not rock-and-roll's Fab Four -- but giant beetles of the insect variety. The beetles were found in a package being mailed to Philadelphia. Some of the giant beetles are as big as a child's hand. They were mailed from Taiwan. U.S. postal workers became suspicious when they heard scratching noises coming from inside the box. American customs officials they found 26 giant beetles in the package. They note the bugs require a special importation permit.

TIMELY JACKPOT

NEW ROCHELLE, N.Y. (AP) -- William and Hope Shanahan couldn't ask for a better baby gift. The suburban New York couple's first baby is due in October. And now the Shanahans have won a million bucks the New York lottery to help. They're taking their jackpot in 20 annual payments of 50-grand each. Hope Shanahan, who's a waitress, says they'll be using part of their winnings to start a college fund for junior. They're also thinking about a bigger condo. Dad, William Shanahan, is an accountant. He bought the winning Big Bucks ticket at a local newsstand.