Police to fire noisemakers
to rid Mayfair of birds

[SEPT. 6, 2000]  A program to disperse the large flocks of birds that have become a nuisance and a health hazard in Mayfair may begin as early as this evening, with the firing of "bird-bangers" that explode with a loud noise, according to Lincoln Police Chief Richard Ludolph. The noise-making devices will be fired approximately every five minutes from about 6:40 to 7:20 p.m. to discourage the birds from roosting in trees in Mayfair and send them out into the countryside.

The area in which police will be working is from Regent Street to Mayfair Drive and south of Northgate, Ludolph said. Police officers will conduct all the firings. The cartridges will be fired above the trees and will not injure or kill the birds.

[Hardly a lawn is spared the leftovers as evidenced by feathers sticking up in most lawns]

The police chief said he had contacted the USDA and was told using the bird-bangers "in an orderly and planned way over time" was the most effective way of getting rid of the birds. He said it may take a week or two of regular firings to keep the large flocks of starlings and grackles from coming back.

The problem was brought to the attention of the City Council last week, when Mayfair residents spoke before a council work session. The residents themselves had been firing the bird-bangers but had learned that the devices violated a city noise ordinance. The City Council amended the ordinance Tuesday evening to allow the police department to fire the pyrotechnic devices in the city.

Ludolph said he had visited the area and seen thousands of birds coming in to roost and the leaves of the trees white with bird droppings. He told the council the police department would assume the expense of purchasing the "bangers" and the launchers. Several Mayfair residents who attended the meeting said they would be happy to give the police department the launchers and cartridges they have already purchased so the program can start immediately.

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The council’s action amends the ordinance so that the police department may use the noise-making devices whenever they determine the birds are a health hazard. The public is to be notified ahead of time whenever possible. Some residents have complained that the noise frightens pets and prevents them from sitting outside.

Mayfair resident John Brown said the bird situation has become worse over the years and residents can no longer handle it alone. Patricia Birk, who spoke last week, said she and her husband had to use masks and rubber gloves to clean up the leaves in their yard. She suggested residents be allowed to use the bird-bangers if the police department did not have enough manpower to carry out the program.

One Mayfair resident, Mary Gupton, objected to the program. "It’s very annoying to sit outside in the evening and hear shotgun shells. I think this is unnecessary. They should either cut the trees down so the birds don’t have a place to roost, or move out."

[Joan Crabb]

[SEPT. 6, 2000]  Lincoln’s current mayor, Joan C. Ritter, announced this morning she will run for a second four-year term in the upcoming election Feb. 27, 2001. She made the formal announcement at a brief press conference at 8:30 a.m. under the arch at the newly restored Scully Park.

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Sen. Dick Durbin 
stops to visit Lincoln

[SEPT. 2, 2000]  Lincoln had yet another distinguished  guest stop in Friday.  Lincoln Woman's Club played host to Sen. Dick Durbin as he stopped for a short visit about 2 p.m. on the warm afternoon.  This was just one stop during his three-day visit to central Illinois.  Nancy Amberg, president of LWC and chair of the Woman’s Club Legislative Committee, has been planning this afternoon tea with the senator for just over a year. 

The Lincoln Woman’s Club works hard to be proactive against woman and child abuse, because they believe that there’s "a safe place for every child." 

During the brief meeting, Durbin briefly discussed the convention and campaign, and then focused on campaign issues.  He ended the meeting by answering questions, and chatting with the attendees.

Durbin flew to the Democratic National Convention in Los Angeles.  He said that in only four days, he and his companions put 900 miles on the rental car simply by driving back and forth between the different events!  Since then, he has spent at least three days with the Gore/Leiberman campaign in Illinois.  He believes that Illinois will see a lot of both presidential candidates, because Illinois is a key state.  Every president that has won has had the state of Illinois.

The senator then discussed four main issues that he stands for.  First, he said that we need a new farm bill.  Many farmers are struggling because they must compete with farmers in Brazil and Argentina.  These foreign farmers are keeping the prices of corn and soybeans low.  As a side note, the senator said that Peoria, Decatur and Springfield have observed that the Illinois River is silting up.     

Next, Durbin focused on prescription drugs and Medicare, stating that one-third of seniors do not have drug coverage and another one-third do not have enough coverage.  If seniors are unable to get their medications and have to go to the emergency room, the taxpayer pays for the treatment—so why not prevent the emergency room bills by just paying for the senior’s drugs.  

Durbin’s third issue concerned a patient’s bill of rights.  He cited two stories where the insurance company refused the doctor’s orders.  One doctor ignored the insurance company, and the other doctor sent a patient home, telling him to return in a month if there was trouble. 

The last issue concerned how to spend the tax surplus.  Durbin does not believe in returning these monies to the taxpayer but rather using these monies for other projects.  The primary goal should be to pay off the national debt.  In addition to the debt, Durbin wants the surplus to help fund Medicare, Social Security  and college educations.  He also believes in tax breaks for parents who use day care, stay-at-home moms and for older children who care for their senior parents. 

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On his way out of town, Durbin planned to stop by and visit the high school football team.  He wanted to encourage them in their game tonight against Southeast.