2A
Wednesday, June 12, 1996
CAMPUS/AREA
UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN
Seven bicycles stolen in one day
By Shannon Sprinkel
Kansan staff writer
Seven bicycles, each using a chain and padlock, were stolen outside various buildings on the University's campus on Monday.
The crimes occurred between 9:30 a.m. and 5:00 p.m., according to Sgt. Chris Keary of the KU police.
The bicycles ranged in price from $350 to $700 and were stolen from different areas.
"We're not sure how the perpetrators are concealing the wire cutters," Keary said.
Two bicycles were stolen at Robinson Center. Thefts also occurred near Fraser, Haworth, Blake and Murphy halls. One bicycle was stolen from 15th Street and Engel Road.
graduate student, is not very hopeful that the police will recover his bicycle, which was stolen near Blake Hall.
Marc Nordberg, Minneapolis
"I was told there is slim chance of getting it back," said Nordberg. "I don't have insurance. I'm out of a bike!"
For Chad Reasoner, Overland Park senior, the outcome of his bicycle getting stolen was not as bleak. His homeowner's insurance covers it.
"My bike has been stolen before," said Reasoner, "But it was in a dark place then. I am shocked it was stolen in broad daylight right outside of Fraser Hall."
There are some preventative measures that can be taken to deter potential thieves.
Keary suggests U-locks instead of cable or chain locks
"The perpetrators knew what to bring to break the cable and chain locks," said Keary. "However, by locking a bike through both wheels and the frame, the risk of theft is reduced."
Most U-locks cost about $30 and may be purchased from bike shops and discount stores.
Another important theft prevention step is to register the bicycle.
For Claudia Bode, a Lawrence resident, having her bicycle registered could make the difference of whether it is retrieved.
"The police department said that if I turned in the registration numbers, they will put it in a national computer," Bode said. If the bicycle is ever sold or pawned, the chance of the person getting caught is much greater, she said.
Registering a bicycle costs 25
cents and is required by a Lawrence city ordinance. The bicycle's owner must submit the make, model and serial number.
During the beginning of the fall semester, bicycle registration drives will be at the Student Union Activities office, the Lawrence police department and the KU police department in Carruth-O'Leary Hall.
However, this apparent increase in crime in Lawrence is not a trend. The number of campus reports of theft have decreased from 632 in 1994 to 585 in 1995.
The Lawrence police would appreciate any tips that could lead to solving the bicycle thefts. Witnesses can call the police at 864-5572. If a crime is seen in progress, Crime Stoppers is available at 864-8888.
Storm delays road work along Naismith Drive
Kansan staff report
As the storm rolled into Lawrence last Wednesday, Jennifer Vogel and Danielle Burgeson were riding their tandem bicycle near Naismith Drive when their bike hit some debris and flipped over.
"It all happened so fast," said Vogel, Green Bay, Wis., senior.
"I'm not really sure what hit, but I think it must have been from all that construction on Naismith."
For Lawrence residents, road construction is usually a minor inconvenience. But when repairs are combined with bad weather, it can become a problem.
The road construction on Naismith Drive, between 19th Street and Sunnyside Avenue, will be delayed about one week because of last Wednesday's severe weather, said Doug Riat, associate director of design and construction management.
"When the rains came on Wednesday, we basically lost the rest of the work week," he said. "Luckily, the damage was minimal with only a little bit of erosion."
The road construction project involves replacing deteriorating metal pipes with concrete pipes to increase the water capacity of storm sewers. Riat estimated that the storm would add $2,500 to construction costs for lost labor and replacement materials.
Injured wild animals rescued, released to natural habitats
Operation WildLife rescues and releases about 70 percent of its animal orphans
Andrea Albright
Kansan staff writer
In 1995, Operation WildLife rescued about 3,000 wild animals that were shot, poisoned, struck by cars, trapped or otherwise injured in northeast Kansas.
Operation WildLife, or OWL, is a non-profit organization in Linwood that rehabilitates injured, orphaned and displaced wild animals and releases them to their natural habitats.
"Right now our biggest problems are cats and dogs," said Diane Johnson, director of the center. "Two out of three of our cases are pet-related."
Since its establishment in 1989.
the center has grown into the largest publicly-funded wildlife clinic in Kansas. The organization is staffed almost entirely by volunteers, including veterinarians, veterinary technicians, nutritional consultants and wildlife rehabilitators.
The rehabilitators are trained at the center to perform a variety of duties, from cleaning and feeding animals to "hacking out," which refers to the release stage of the rehabilitation process.
The center successfully releases about 70 percent of the animals it receives. According to the National WildLife Rehabilitation Association, the national average release rate is 49 percent.
New volunteers are always in training, but it has to turn away anyone who wants to treat the animals like pets. For survival, the animals' natural fear of humans must be maintained.
Donna Putnam, head of education at the center, said the center is always looking for volunteers.
"We've got good volunteers, but we can always use more who don't mind getting real dirty," Putnam said.
Most of Operation WildLife's work centers on the daily care and feeding of the wounded menagerie.
Some volunteers spend the day washing loads of towels or dishes. Others must prepare meals for squirrels, sparrows, coyotes and king snakes. Sometimes a meal is the recycled carcass of an animal that didn't survive.
The center also presents educational programs at schools or civic centers and special events, such as Earth Day.
These programs are designed to teaching the public to respect and appreciate animals in the wild.
These animals include a bald
Some unreleasable animals at the center are used in the presentations to exemplify the wide range of animals and injuries that the center encounters.
eagle from Yellowstone National Park that fell out of a tree after ingesting a poisoned gopher, a black rat snake that was almost stomped to death and a diamond-back terrapin turtle that was found blocking traffic on Metcalf Avenue in Overland Park.
"He was probably a pet because these turtles are not indigenous to this part of the country," Putnam said.
Over-zealous rescuers are the center's greatest foe. Often an animal that may appear to be abandoned is actually functioning normally. However, wellmeaning people sometimes are overcome by their desire to save an animal.
"The first thing to do if you find an animal is call us," Johnson said. "I would rather have 50 calls a day than unnecessarily stressing a healthy animal by bringing it to us. Let us be your eyes."
The number for Operation WildLife is 913-542-3625.
Pam Dishman/KANSAN
Erika Boomsma, Operation WildLife volunteer, displays a barred owl that is used for public education. Selected unreleasable animals are part of a program that takes wildlife to schools and events in an effort to familiarize the public with the animals that are rehabilitated at the facility.