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"Bird-bangers,"
pyrotechnic devices which are shot into the air and explode with a
loud noise, have succeeded in dispersing thousands of grackles that
have been gathering to roost in trees in Mayfair, becoming nuisances
and health hazards, according to Police Chief Richard Ludolph.
For
six evenings, police officers have been shooting the bird-bangers
approximately every five minutes while the birds are gathering to
roost, just before dark. The bird-bangers do not injure or kill the
birds, just frighten them away.
Ludolph
said when he first went to Mayfair, he saw thousands of birds coming
into the subdivision. "Tonight I hardly saw any," he told
the council. He said police will not be shooting any more devices in
Mayfair unless the birds come back.
Although
police aimed the noisemakers to drive the birds east, away from town
and into the countryside, Ludolph said a few are roosting in other
areas of the city, around Rutledge Drive, Wichita Avenue and
Lincolnwood Drive by Heritage Avenue, but not in the huge numbers seen
in Mayfair. These areas will be monitored to see if a problem
develops.
Alderman
Stephen Mesner of the second ward brought up the perennial problem of
disposal of leaves in the city of Lincoln.
"Are
we going to have a program to collect leaves this year, or are we
saying totally, 100 percent residents take care of it all?" he
asked.
(To top of second
column in this article)
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Alderman
William Melton, who was chairing the session in the absence of Mayor
Joan Ritter, said that unless the streets committee wanted to consider
the issue, there was no change in the city’s policy. Street
Superintendent Donnie Osborne noted that according to the city
ordinance, it is still illegal for homeowners to rake leaves into the
street for the city to pick up.
"We
still prefer they bring their leaves to us at the landfill,"
Osborne said. He said the city would extend the hours the landfill
would be open, and residents could bring in leaves and yard waste at
no charge.
"There
are many residents who are not going to be able to take leaves to the
dump," Mesner replied.
The
present city ordinance allows burning landscape waste only in
locations 50 feet or more from any structure, such as a house, garage
or business. For many areas of Lincoln, this rules out leaf burning
entirely because of the density of buildings, a spokesman for the
Lincoln Fire Department said.
At
a previous meeting, Lincoln resident Charlotte Griffin asked the
council to consider permitting leaf burning three days a week. She
said this would allow people with respiratory ailments to enjoy the
outdoors the other four days.
Alderman
Steve Fuhrer, chairman of sidewalks, forestry and lighting, scheduled
a meeting at 6:30 p.m. on Sept. 26 for the committee to discuss
extending landfill hours for leaf disposal.
[Joan
Crabb]
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Family
Fun Day attracts 250-300 people
[SEPT.
11, 2000] The
Alcohol, Tobacco, & Other Drug (ATOD) Task Force of the Healthy
Communities Partnership hosted its first Family Fun Day on Saturday,
Sept. 9, from 3 to 8 p.m. at Latham Park in Lincoln.
Approximately
250 to 300 people attended the free and substance-free event. The
Lincoln Area YMCA coordinated Wacky Olympics. The Lincoln City Police
Department provided hot dogs and brats. The University of Illinois
Cooperative Extension Office, along with the Lincoln Parent Center and
the Lincoln Public Library, had craft activities. A dunk tank, face
painting, volleyball and tug-of-war rounded out the activities. Rock
Steady performed from 5 to 8 p.m.
If
anyone would like more information about the ATOD Task Force or the
Healthy Communities Partnership, contact Dayle Eldredge at (217)
732-2161, Ext. 409. [click
here to see photos]
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