Image provided by: University of Nebraska-Lincoln Libraries, Lincoln, NE
About The daily Nebraskan. ([Lincoln, Neb.) 1901-current | View Entire Issue (Feb. 17, 2000)
‘Dead spots’ in communication give the State Patrol problems By Michelle Starr Staffuriter “Reference 1074, have visual. Suspect near exit 20 at Kimball, head ing north. Request assistance.” Dead air. “Reference 1074, have visual. Suspect near exit 20 at Kimball, head ing north. Request assistance.” Dead air. This example is similar to what a trooper would experience if “dead spots” in communication occur. Much like gaps in cellular phone coverage, the state patrol’s communi cations system experiences dead spots that have posed problems for law enforcement off cers, said Terri Teuber, press secretary for the State Patrol. The problem was once again rec ognized during the past week’s man hunt of Charles Lannis Moses Jr., 31, of Nocona, Texas, that ended Tuesday night in a ranch house in eastern Wyoming. Moses is suspected of shooting two Nebraska State Patrol officers Saturday and killing Robert Sedlacek, 48, of Paxton, Monday. Though there is no way of knowing if better communication could have saved a man’s life or prevented injury to two state troopers, Teuber said “it cer tainly could have aided in the search” for Moses. Problems in Whiteclay this past _ summer also could have been lessened with better communication, Teuber said. The dead spots in communication, usually caused by terrain, such as val leys, sometimes continue to make it impossible for troopers to radio law enforcement bases, Teuber said. Dead spots are more prevalent in the western part of the state because of the terrain, but they are not isolated to the area. They are also found in eastern Nebraska, Teuber said. Bruce Armstrong, state patrol dis patcher, said troopers have only a few options if their communications don’t go through. First they may decide to change frequencies, switch to a different con trol tower or contact different agencies in the area. Teuber said sometimes troopers had to radio other troopers and have them contact base. This process was more time-consuming and difficult - possibly dangerous - during foot pur suits. Dead spots are not the only prob lem with the communication system; interference from other radio frequen cies also concerns law enforcement officials. Frequency interruption can make it difficult to hear needed information, Teuber said. The State Patrol’s communication system was installed in 1956. W In a field like law enforcement, communication can be a matter of life or death” Terri Teuber State Patrol press secretary Upgrades have been made throughout the years, but the system is far from perfect, Teuber said. In July, Gov. Mike Johanns released a statement introducing a study to examine the State Patrol’s communications problems and look for ways to improve the situation. The ongoing study is using the northeast part of the state because of the difficult terrain and problems it causes in communications. Chris Peterson, spokesman for Johanns, said because the study is not complete, a judgment cannot be made as to how the system could be improved or the amount of money it would take to improve the system. Teuber said improvements in the sys tem are vital. “In a field like law enforcement, communication can be a matter of life or death,” Teuber said. Photographer shares experiences ■ UNL graduate charms audience with anecdotes ' and pictures at seminar. By Glenn Connot Staff writer Joel Sartore has been working as a photographer for the National Geographic Society for 10 years, and he has more than a few lessons learned and stories to tell as a result. On Wednesday afternoon, Sartore, a free-lance photographer, presented a seminar on his experiences as a National Geographic photographer, conservationist and Nebraska resident to a packed crowd. The presentation included slides with commentary by Sartore and a short National Geographic Journal video featuring Sartore’s experience as a wildlife photographer in Bolivia. More than 200 people came to Sartore’s presentation at the Great Plains Art Collection Gallery in Love Library, said Linda Ratcliffe of the Public Relations Center for Great Plains Studies. Sartore entertained the crowd with commentary and dozens of pho tographs for more than an hour. He finished by answering questions and signing books. Sartore, a Lincoln resident, also showed slides of Nebraska pho tographs from his National Geographic article on Nebraska and his book, “Nebraska, Under A Big Red Sky.” Sartore has covered 14 stories for National Geographic magazine and has written or contributed to eight books. He has received several awards and was a finalist for the Pulitzer Prize for Photography in 1986. Sartore grew up in Ralston and graduated from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln College of Journalism and Mass Communication in 1985. He became interested in photogra phy his senior year in high school. Sartore said he went into photography because “it didn’t require math or chemistry, but really because it didn’t feel like work.” Sartore has been doing presenta tions ever since he became a National Geographic photographer. He has recently done presentations on conservationism in Crete, Morrill, Valentine, Albion and all the Lincoln Public High Schools. Sartore’s work will be on display in the Capitol from Feb. 28 to March 10 and at BryanLGH East on March 18. Debate centers on involvement DEBATE from page 1 tainment acts to campus. Jason Kidd, Duff presidential can didate, said if the university makes students feel they belong and are respected, students will get involved. Duff’s platform ideas of improv ing student seating at athletic events and eliminating UNL’s dry-campus policy are student concerns that have not been addressed in previous years’ gZZZZg^yy/////y/y/y//y//yyy/. ASUN campaigns, Kidd said. Kidd said the campus community would be improved if students were provided opportunities for social events on campus. Butterfield mentioned creating two Web sites: One would be focused on advising, and the other would help students sell textbooks to one another online. Mello said he views Empower as a group of individuals with passion to make a difference. Many of the students attending the debate sported election group T shirts and buttons. A-Team’s Schafer commended the students present who had not yet decided which group they would sup port. Mello complimented all groups. “Hopefully, whether we win or lose, the campus will be a better place after the elections,” he said. Are You Interested In Being A Member Of The Nebraska Union Board? The Nebraska Union Board is composed of twelve University of Nebraska - Lincoln students and two faculty/staff members. The purpose of the Nebraska Union Board is to advise the Director of Nebraska Unions and give recommendations in all decision % making of the Unions. I. , -■ t •' N W N Xs r After an application and interview process, new members will be selected. Board members terms begin with the annual retreat held each spring. Applications are available at the ASUN office, City and East Campus Unions, and the : Culture Center. They are due February 24th. Kerrey accepts new position ■ The retiring senator will start the job next January when his term ends. By Michelle Starr Staff writer After a year of searching, New School University has found their man. Nebraska Sen. Bob Kerrey was chosen for the position of president of the school, said John L. Tishman, chairman of the board of trustees of New School University, in a statement. “The Board ofTrustees is delighted that our university has attracted a per son of such high caliber as Senator Kerrey, whose values, dedication to education, energy level and passion for gathering the best minds to solve prob lems will now benefit our institution,” Tishman said. Kerrey will succeed Johnathan Fanton, who, in September, became the president of the Mac Arthur Foundation in Chicago. Kerrey will begin his new job at the end of his Senate term in January of next year. “I am excited to begin my associa tion with New School University,” Kerrey said in a statement. “I love education. I recognize that education is the basis of our prosperity and our ability to govern ourselves, and I recognize that educators, more that anyone else, are the true shapers of our future.” Kerrey announced Jan. 20 that he would not run tor re-election lor U.b. Senate. “At the end of this term I will leave elected political life with gratitude for the chance to serve the people of Nebraska in the never-ending cause of making this a more perfect union,” Kerrey said in the speech announcing his decision. Attorney General Don Stenberg, Secretary of State Scott Moore, Lincoln dermatologist Eliott Rustad and Omaha businessman George Grogan have tossed their hats into the race for Kerrey’s seat. Kerrey’s new place of employment is located in Greenwich Village in New York City. It was established as the New School for Social Research in 1919 and was later made the New School University in 1997. About 7,500 students are enrolled in degree programs and about 25,000 students in other educational programs. “What appeals to me about the New School is its dedication to free dom: freedom in the consideration of ideas, freedom in developing and imparting new knowledge and protect tion for those whose freedom is threat ened,” Kerrey said. Kerrey served as Nebraska’s gover nor from 1983 to 1987 and is in his sec ond term as a U.S. senator. “Among the many constants in Bob’s life story, one in particular stands out for me: his ability to inspire those with whom he works,” said New School University Chancellor Philip Scaturro. Counterfeit funds hit city By Michelle Starr Staff writer Businesses and citizens beware: Counterfeit money is traveling through the city. Within the past month, 16 inci dents involving counterfeit money, totaling $1,495 in losses, have been reported to Lincoln Police, Investigator Steve Niemeyer said. The incidents came in two differ ent spurts, one on Jan. 20 and the other more recently between Feb. 12 and 13. The two rounds don’t seem to be connected, Niemeyer said. He said it is believed that two peo ple are involved in the most recent spurt of counterfeit bills, but it is unknown if the two are working together. The largest single quantity offense was on Feb. 6 when 53 counterfeit $20 bills, totaling $1,060, were discovered after a New Year’s celebration at Immaculate Heart of Mary Church, 2601 P St. Six days later, two businesses were hit. At Village Inn, 111 S. 29th St., an employee made change around 7:30 or 8 p.m. for two $10 bills that were later to be found counterfeit. Around the same time, a man entered the Gas ’N Shop, 2801 O St., and received change for a $20 counter feit bill. Sunday, 10 businesses were hit, tor a total of $305 in losses. Sinclair, 6001 Cornhusker Highway, reported losing $40 in two bills between 7 a.m. and 5 p.m. Between 11 a.m. and 5’p.m., Laundry Land, 1344 N. 27th St.; Super 8 Motel, 2635 W. O St; and Blimpies Subs and Pasta, 2700 O St., all fell vic tim, Niemeyer said. Laundry Land found one $20 counterfeit bill in the register after hearing reports on the news about fake money, and Blimpies refiorted $40 in counterfeit money, Niemeyer said. Kari Mann, assistant manager of Super 8 Motel, said the manager dis covered a counterfeit $5 bill when she was making the deposit for the bank. She had noticed it looked different than other bills. “Keep an eye out,” Mann said. “There is a difference in the feel of it and in the color.” Around 6 p.m., the suspect tried to purchase money orders at Hinky Dinky, 2145 S. 17th St., but instead asked for two $100 bills in exchange for $ 10s and $20s, which were fake, ! Niemeyer said. As the clerk began checking the bills with a marker, the man left. The marker, which looks like a yel low highlighter, is used to check bills; if the marker turns brown on the bill, it’s fake. Employees at Q4Quik, 17th and Vine streets, discovered at 6 p.m. two $20 counterfeit bills in the register after they were alerted by police that fake money reportedly had been being used in the area, Niemeyer said. Lincoln Police Ofc. Katherine Finnell said around 6:06 p.m. at Russ’s Market, 1709 Washington St., a man attempted to get change for one $20 counterfeit bill. The clerk noticed that when he marked the bill to check for its authenticity, the bill was fake. The suspect then left the building. John Hansen, an employee at Handy Shop, 1700 L St., said a man came into the store around the same time as reported from Russ’s and pur chased something using a $20 bill, then got change for two more $20 bills. Hansen noticed the bills were fake when one of them didn’t have a water mark and two of them had the same serial number, he said. Hansen, using images from a sur veillance camera, showed police who the suspected man was that gave him the bills. The description, a black man approximately 5-foot-10, 160 to 170 pounds with a thin beard and last seen . wearing a red jacket, is consistent with the incidents reported Sunday. The next reported stop was at 7 ;30 p.m., where Kahfedlos, 1425 S 17th ' St., lost $40, Niemeyer said. He also said Dairy Queen, 1447 N. 27th St., reported ground 10 p.m. that $60 in counterfeit money was found in ' the bank deposit. Three businesses were hit in the , first round of incidents on Jan. 20. • t