Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil — A woman was killed by her husband’s coffin on the way to his funeral earlier this week.

Police reports state that 67-year-old Marciana Silva Barcelos was killed instantly when a traffic accident caused her husband’s coffin to fly forward, striking her in the head. The driver of the hearse and Barcelos’ son suffered only minor injuries.

Her husband, 76-year-old Josi Silveira Coimbra, died of a heart attack while dancing at a party on Sunday.

Komarovo, Russia — A 200-year-old church has been reported missing from a small Russian village.

Built in 1809, the Church of Christ’s Resurrection was stolen, brick by brick in early October, though the theft was not immediately noticed due to the church’s isolated location.

While the identity of the thief is unknown, it is common in rural Russia for church property to be dismantled for building materials and church relics. This case is not an isolated incident either: Father Vitaly, spokesman for the local Russian Orthodox Church, said many historical sites are being deprived of their cultural heritage.

While not in active use, clergy were considering resuming services in the church before its disappearance.

Batman, Turkey — Filmaker Chris Noland is being sued by Huseyin Kalkan, mayor of a town in southeastern Turkey called Batman.

Kalkan claims Noland, in combination with film studio Warner Bros., used the city’s name without permission, and is suing for royalties from The Dark Knight.

Kalkan claims there is only one Batman in the world, and that the American film producers used the name without informing the town’s inhabitants. He will be providing evidence of the city’s history to prove Batman predates the character first seen in 1939’s DC Comic’s Detective Comics #27.

Colchester, England — A terrier trained to retrieve the morning post had to be taken to a veterinarian to remove the mail from his mouth.

The glossy ink from a takeout menu included in the mail melted and glued the letters to the inside of the terrier’s mouth. Locals of Colchester believe the that company that generates the mailings needs to take responsibility for the damage they do to dogs.

COVENTRY, U.K. — Avtar Chagger, of Coventry, has invented a way to incorporate child care with the latest trends in communication.

A moisture-sensing chip clipped inside a diaper, dubbed the Baby Wee-Care, sends text messages to parents to indicate the necessity of a changing.

Gulfport, Florida — Gus, the ugliest dog in the world, died earlier this week.

The three-legged, one-eyed, hairless Chinese Crested Dog has succumbed to the cancer that cost him his leg.

Gus was rescued from a bad home by Jeanenne Teed, who entered him in the Ugliest Dog in the World contest this summer. Teed had said the prize money would go toward Gus’ radiation treatment.

Reach columnist Matthew Jackson at news@dailyuw.com.