Posted on 09/16/2005 6:37:00 AM PDT by ShadowDancer
Neighbors Find Obscenity Mowed Into Lawn
Parents Worry For Children Who See Message
POSTED: 3:09 pm EDT September 15, 2005
UPDATED: 5:14 pm EDT September 15, 2005
OMAHA, Neb. -- An Omaha man mowed an obscenity into his lawn, and now his neighbors are upset because they don't want their children to see the nasty language.
The homeowner, who neighbors told Omaha TV station KETV has the last name Miller, cut a two-word expletive into his front lawn after being warned by the city about excessive grass and weeds around his house. The phrase is about 30 feet long across his yard.
"I saw the neighbor's yard with some derogatory statements mowed into the yard," said neighbor Traci Tunzer.
Tunzer said she's been hoping her neighbor would mow the long grass in his yard, but she's upset by the way he decided to mow it. Tunzer said there's a school nearby.
"I have three children, and two of them will definitely know what that says. It worries me," she said. "We don't want our children to be around that kind of stuff."
Down the hill, neighbor Bernie Horstmeyer said he is in disbelief.
"When I first saw it, I saw the big 'U,' and I had to back up just to see if that's what it really said," he said.
Horstmeyer and other residents said the homeowner was warned by the city about excessive weeds and tall grass in his yard. They said the expletive could be his response, or just a prank.
"I don't know if he got turned in (or) why he did it. Or he's just bored and decided to mow it," one neighbor said.
City officials couldn't verify the homeowner's name. No one answered at his front door, and further attempts by KETV to contact him were unsuccessful.
City prosecutor Marty Conboy said little can be done legally about the yard.
"There really is no criminal law that covers these kinds of vulgarities," Conboy said.
Conboy said it would be different if the homeowner threatened city employees by saying the expletive, but on the lawn, it's a passive statement protected by the 1st Amendment.
"As much as you might shake your head at what kind of reasoning is involved, it's not prohibited," Conboy said. "A person who wants to make a statement in public, that doesn't invoke a violent response, is protected by the constitution."
Conboy said he is "disappointed" that someone would use his 1st Amendment rights in such a manner.
City codes dictate that lawns taller than 10 inches can be ticketed, but Parks and Planning officials said that unless the grass that formed the expletive met that criterion, there was nothing they could do to force its removal.
Yes you do. Wanna come over and do my yard???
stile = sterile
Put a 'For Sale' sign in the yard w/ the lawyer's phone number.
THAT is a good idea!
Yes, I should have known what is a granny unit. My Aunt and Uncle living in Long Beach, Ca. had a garage apartment on their property that generated much extra income for them over the years.
Well, this is The South, where cars up on blocks are considered LAWN ART.............and we gotta lotta artistes here!........
I'm rather annoyed with the city...
Nope, I just sit on a lot and a half. Not much on paper but plenty with a pair of Friskars in your hand.
Yes, and you have a right to be so annoyed.
I keep mine for my husband, wouldn't want to dull it on weeds.
WWTCD?
Have you spoken to him?
Are there any neighborhood covenents? I would have no qualms about enforcing covenants against an absentee owner, especially one who's a lawyer.
"Normally I agree. But not cutting your lawn is just nasty. I have little sympathy for these types and those who are real garbage collectors and have parts of cars, appliances, scrap metal, etc... piled all over the place.
Those two types deserve ALL the bad that Gov't can do to them."
I don't know about "All the bad Gov't can do"..that seems a little harsh to me..lol. Your point is a goood one, but (monkey),I still delight in these kinda stories.
In Texas, one can use deadly force to stop someone from taking property or a life threatening situation, but not in your scenario.
Nah you're right, I'll just come out there and offer them lemonade while they're salting my lawn. My bad sir, carry on with the destruction of my property.
Over my dead body.
" Over my dead body."
Too much coffee this morning?
"All the bad the gov't can do to them" with respect to this situation. I would guess it would be something like a fine, hiring someone to go to the homeowners house and clean up, and passing the bill onto the homeowner, etc...
If there is a law on the books(as other point out, you can move, or not move there to begin with) against the ascribed indiscretion, and especially if it's negatively effecting your neighbors property values - then you deserve what I cite above.
You sound like my kind of neighbor TC. A guy who mows my lawn for free? That would be cool!
Yeah, but you had to have a death in the family to qualify.
Moot point now, sold the house, the mower, etc. I now live in a townhome. (I did keep the chainsaw though, after going through a hurricane and numerous limb dropping ice storms, I'll never be without a chainsaw again)
Yeah, it's exactly the same thing (*rolling eyes*)
Rather than killing the grass with a herbicide, spread 20/20/20 FERTILIZER in the pattern you desire.
Works wonderfully, but don't ask how I know this.....
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