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Plant Snatchers Set Back Greening of LincolnA small group of plant phantoms, who apparently have sticky fingers but no green thumbs, are swiping potted plants in the city.The plant crime wave began to sprout at the end of March and came to full bloom this week with an estimated 13,000 in plants having been reported stolen from 56 residences during this time period.Police Lt. Albert W. Maxey says the police criminal division has information that the plants are being stolen by four men who are selling them to a Lincoln flower shop.He theorizes that at least 50 more plant thefts have probably occurred but have not been reported, most likely because the victims of the plant''thefts attributed their plant losses to neighborhood vandalism and did not think the losses were important enough to contact police.The plant phantoms apparently struck one residence twice. Mrs. Hattie Forney of 3133 Starr reported the loss of a small cactus the middle of June. About a week later, she said, her spider plant in a container weighing about 50 pounds disappeared.Whoever took her plants knew what they were doing, Mrs. Forney says, because the plant snatchers were selective in what they took. She added that some of her neighbors have also lost plants, but they did not report the losses to police.Mrs. Hattie Forney and daughter Kathleen smile now, but not when plants are stolen.The latest victim of the plant theft spree was Mrs. Rita McCaslin, 23, of 2060 E St. who reported the theft of numerous cacti from her front porch Monday.Police say the plant values in the reported thefts range from $10 to 5235.Tech College Budget Action Deferred Until Funding ClearSwanson Hasn’t Replied To Inquiry on IntentionsBy Jack KennedyAction on a budget increase of more than $2.2 million for the 3-campus Southeast Community College has been deferred until state funding problems are cleared up and the Lincoln campus submits more background material, area president Robert Eicher said Wednesday.major topics July 19 when the state board meets at 1:30 p.m. at Nebraska Center.Officials of the state 2-year public institutions met Wednesday with Gov. J. J. Exon in an effort to find a way out of current financial problems since the State Supreme Court ruled the current one mill property tax levy is illegal. The levy provides about a third of the schools' funding.The Southeast Area board was not' polled Tuesday on its reaction-to sources of funding or a special session, Eicher said. Some officials have suggested the state advance funding for the schools until the regular legislative session opens in January.shifted from the campuses.The Fairbury campus budget will be reviewed with Dr. Eugene Marcy, Oregon educator hired last week as college director there.The Nebraska Public Service Commission (PSC) still is awaiting a reply from Commissioner John W. Swanson on whether he intends to participate in PSC business.replacement could be named.32 Nebraskans To FHA ConfabSwanson is a lame duck commissioner from western Nebraska and has been absent or in attendance only briefly at PSC Monday meetings since he lost in the May 14 Republican primary election.“I guess I’m not worried about it,” Eicher said. He said he is confident the state will solve the problem of whether it can advance state funds to the schools ahead of time or schedule a special session of the Legislature. Gov. Exon has said a special session may be unnecessary.“There's more involved thanFaced with a July 15 deadline for submission of an area budget to the State Board of Technical Community Colleges, the Southeast board agreed to pass on a preliminary budget to the state office but did not officially take action on budget requests for 1974-75, Eicher said.As discussed informally Tuesday and in earlier meetings, the proposed 1975-76 budget for Lincoln, Fairbury and Milford campuses totals slightly more than $7 million, compared to the $4.8 million budget for 1974-75.About $500,000 in new programs are suggested for theNebraska will be represented by 32 student delegates and eight advisors July 15-18 at the annual meeting of the Future Homemakers of America in Chicago.FHA is a national organization of students in home economics and related occupation courses in high -schools. Lori Schlichiemeier of Nehawka will preside at one of the general sessions. She is national vice president of the Central FHA region. Judy Berg, FHA adviser with the State Department of Education, will head the Nebraska delegation.PSC commissioners receive $17,500 annually for holding the elective post. Swanson, if he declined to resign, would remain in office until next January.The winner of the GOP primary was Ord trucking firm owner Jack Romans. There is no Democrat on the ballot opposing Romans.Gov. J. J. Exon would appoint the replacement. Exon is a Democrat and Swanson a Republican. Rasmussen also is a Republican.Other commissioners agreed with Rasmussen that a letter should be sent to Swanson asking him about his intentions.The letter, written by new PSC Chairman Robert Marland, was sent about July 3. No reply has been received.Repeated telephone calls to Swanson's residences in Lincoln and Eustjs by reporters proved futile. There has been no answer at either residence.There is speculation that Ralph Miller of Wellfleet, unsuccessful Democratic primary challenger for the Third Congressional District nomination, may file petitions as a candidate for the PSC seat Swanson vacates.At the first Monday meetingThe letter did not ask for Swanson’s resignation, but sought word of his plans and mentioned the heavy workload faced by the four commissioners who regularly attend meetings.Marland said be sent a letter to Swanson's Lincoln residence and a copy to Eustis, but no reply came back in the past week.Metro-abeaN Street Rezoning Is VetoedFor the second time in less than a month. Mayor Sam Schwartzkopf has vetoed a zoning change narrowly approved by the City Council.Tuesday, the mayor axed a change from B Two Family to C Multiple Dwelling approved 4-3 by the Council July 1 for the north side of N St. between 40th and 42nd Sts.Schwartzkopf said the rezoning would have an adverse effect on the surrounding neighborhood and that the change constituted spot zoning — which is not in compliance with the current City-County Comprehensive Plan or the Goals and Policies report.Last month, the mayor vetoed a change from G Local Business to B Two Family for 13 lots along Sumner St. between 24th and 26th Sts.That veto, upheld by the Council, came because the mayor said the change did not meet the requirements of the Comprehensive Plan.The Sumner St. change was sought by area residents as a way to prevent construction of large traffic-generating apartment complexes.The mayor disagreed with that logic, but cited the apartment problem as one of the reasons for Tuesday's veto of the zoning change on N St.In order to override Schwartzkopf’s veto, the Council will have to come up with five favorable votes at next Monday’s meeting.Canvas( SandaReg. 6Drastic reductions on Washable canvas and treat for vour feet. . . cc
Newspaper Details
Lincoln Evening Journal
Lincoln, Nebraska, US
Wed, Jul 10, 1974
Page 29
Full Page
Clipped by
Betti S.
USA 02 Jun 2025
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