Lincoln Journal Star from Lincoln, Nebraska • 7

Saturday. April 2, 1994 STATELOCAL Lincoln Journal-Star Page 7 Bob Cerv Lincoln's major leaguer Sale of IBM land ends prairie dream When voune Bob Cerv was a hh growing up in Nebraska in the late 1930s, his dad drove a refrigerator truck. Each summer when he had to make a run to New York City, dad would take son along and 1U I i I Yankee Stadium. Bob ICMieillLWIS uerv once seeing Lou Gehrig hit three homers in two games. "I'm gonna be a Yankee someday," he recalls promising his dad.

"And I'm gonna put you in a box seat in Yankee Stadium for the World Series." And, by golly, he did. Cerv became a Yankee in 1951 after an auspicious debut with its Triple-A Kansas City Blues farm club following his 1950 graduation from the University of Nebraska. HE HIT .304 IN 1950, then .344 with 28 homers and 108 RBIs in 1951 before the kid from Weston was summoned to New York City to play for the Yankees. He played for both the Yanks and the new major league team in Kansas City, the Athletics, during the 1950s. There were brief stints with the Los Angeles Angels and the Houston Colts in the early 1960s.

Cerv bowed out of major league baseball in 1962. There are about 200,000 people living in Lincoln. One of them has hit 105 major league home runs, when he had his All-Star year. "In 1959, 1 went in to negotiate a raise by myself," he recalls. "There was the president of the ballclub, the general manager, the comptroller and an attorney.

And there I sat making my case that I had had a great year." Their answer: "You know, if you hadn't struck out 77 times When Cerv left the room, he became a holdout. Eventually, the ballclub accepted his request for $30,000, his top major league salary. CERV HIT OVER .300 in three seasons and left baseball with a respectable .276 lifetime batting average. And by the way: No one in baseball history can ever top his World Series batting average as a pinch-hitter. It's 1.000.

Three for three. Following his major league career, Cerv coached at John F. Kennedy College in Wahoo. He managed the semi-pro Liberal Bee Jays in Kansas for eight summers in the 1970s and early 1980s. Once a year he participates in an autograph-signing session featuring former Yankees.

He joined old teammates like Larsen and Reynolds and Tommy Henrich and his old friend. Moose Skowron, at a big event in New York six weeks ago. And tomorrow it all begins anew. The baseball season opens in Cincinnati Sunday night. The Cardinals will be there.

And the dreams of some kids in Nebraska like young Bob Cerv will be there too. Don Walton Lincoln Journal-Star friends. "I never understood how they could crucify him like they did," Cerv says. "I guess Mantle was supposed to hit the 61, not Maris." In 1956, Cerv was the guy who got Don Larsen out of bed following Larsen's all-nighter so he could make his scheduled World Series start against the Dodgers, according to the story chronicled in Roger Kahn's book, "The Era." Larsen proceeded to pitch the only perfect no-bit game in World Series history. Cerv remembers the hot day when he had been throwing batting practice for the Yankees and Casey Stengel "started rattling on and on." "BY THE WAY," Stengel said, turning his way, "one of you guys is going to Kansas City." "I was the only one there," Cerv says with a hearty laugh.

He proceeded to belt 69 home runs in his next three seasons with the Athletics. Cerv played his first year of baseball for $5,000. His first raise pushed his salary all the way up to $6,000. His salary was $15,000 in 1958 fund-raising effort. With such local sponsorship, the national Trust for Public Land would have ne-4 gotiated with IBM and possibly prorO vided funding.

But the Arboretum board said no. Bagley's only remaining hope was that the pending sale to the Leavitt, family, reportedly at $1,500 per acre, would not be completed by the April 1 deadline. In the interim, Bagley said, the Center for Rural Affairs in Walt-hill expressed interest, though its board hadn't voted on the matter. "I WAS JUST hoping against hope this thing would fall through," he said. But on Thursday, Bagley learned the truth.

He said he received a letter from the property manager at Fi-rsTier bank telling him the new owner had taken over the land and that his services as caretaker were terminated as of Friday. He also was ordered not to trespass on the land. "The prairie's being plowed," he lamented Friday. "It's going down the tube pretty fast. One of Bagley's greatest fears is that the trees he planted some of them now 15 to 20 feet tall will be bulldozed.

Another is that the Leav-itts bought the land so they can resell it to developers. But Lincoln attorney Randy Petersen, who represents the Leavitt Brothers partnership, said his clients don't intend to destroy any trees (though some might be moved) and do plan to use the land for farming. Petersen confirmed reports of the sale, which had not yet been filed with the Lancaster County Register of Deeds by Friday. He would not release the purchase price, which would have been more than $1.3 million at the earlier-reported price of $1,500 an acre. Members of the Leavitt family did not return messages left on their answering machines Friday morning and afternoon.

Caretaker of 895 acres had sought support for ecological park, nature center. By Marc Krasnowsky Lincoln Journal-Star Walt Bagley's dream and nine years of work are falling before the plow. A local family has purchased the 895-acre IBM tract northeast of Lincoln. Though there were no visible signs of work, Bagley said Friday that the family has begun tilling some of the land for spring planting. It's the same land that Bagley, a retired University of Nebraska-Lincoln horticulture professor, has cared for since 1986.

Before IBM decided to sell the undeveloped tract near 98th Street and Havelock Avenue in February 1993, Bagley had planted nearly 500 acres of native grasses and wild-flowers and 50 acres of trees. When the land went on the market, Bagley and another retired UNL horticulture professor, Joe Young, organized the Chlorophyll Club. Its goal was to somehow buy the tract then going for $2 million and turn it into an ecological park featuring a nature preserve and an environmental education center. THOUGH SEVERAL environmental groups and educational institutions, including Lincoln Public Schools, expressed support for the idea, nobody came up with the cash. "There wasn't enough interest among the people or organizations that could have stepped in and negotiated for the land," Bagley said.

"They probably felt they had their hands full with other things." Last month, Bagley and Young made a last-gasp effort to convince the Nebraska State Arboretum to accept title to the land and undertake a Second ABC affiliate to hit Lincoln TV Plus a World Series oinch-hit homer off Roger Craig. Cerv played with Mickey Mantle, Roger Maris, Yogi Berra, Allie Reynolds, Whitey Ford, even Joe DiMaggio for a brief time. He was a member of five World Series teams. In 1958, playing with Kansas City, he edged out Ted Williams for a starting outfield position in the AU-StarGame. THAT WAS THE year he hit 38 home runs, batted .305 and had 104 RBIs for a seventh-place team.

Cerv roomed with Roger Maris in 1961 when Maris broke Babe Ruth's home run record by slamming 61 of them. "Nice guy. We became good conducted within a few weeks, and the station should be on the air soon. It will be carried over UHF channel 22. In order to receive the signal, viewers will need the UHF loop antenna that comes with most television sets.

Someday, Singleton said, he hopes that Cablevision will carry NTV. "We would be available to cable We would love to be carried," he said. Lincoln Cablevision officials were unavailable for comment Friday because their office was closed for the Easter holiday weekend. NTV'S THREE AFFILIATES -KWNB Channel 6 in Hayes Center, KHGI Channel 13 in Kearney and KSNB Channel 4 in Superior cover most of Nebraska, the eastern part of Colorado and northern Kansas. With its new translator station, NTV will incorporate all of Lancaster The statement recommends releasing water for wildlife habitat but not enough during critical periods in the spring and summer, Emerton said.

The statement says "the primary environmental objective is to improve riverine habitat" in the Platte River from Lexington to Grand Island. "The (irrigation) districts would need to predict the amount of water that will reach (Overton and Grand Island) and release supplemental -water as many as five to 10 days ahead of time to make up any difference between the predicted and target flow levels," the statement said. Foreign exchange program seeking state host families Nebraska Television Network will broadcast the station on UHF channel 22. By Maureen Bogues Lincoln Journal-Star Local TV viewers who know their ABCs will soon have two channels to choose from. Lincoln is already served by KETV Channel 7 in Omaha, but a second ABC affiliate will hit the airwaves sometime next month via the Nebraska Television Network, a group of three ABC affiliates based in Kearney.

A translator station is under construction in downtown Lincoln, said George Singleton, vice president and general manager of Fant Broadcasting of Nebraska, which owns NTV. TRANSMITTER TESTS will be Nebraska families who participate in the 4-HLABO exchange program have an opportunity to expand their cultural knowledge and understanding beyond state and national boundaries, according to a University of Nebraska-Lincoln staff member. LABO is a youth organization in Japan that focuses on teaching other languages and cultures, said Doug Swanson, 4-H coordinator with 4-H Youth Development at UNL. The exchange program is scheduled for July 23 to Aug. 22.

This year 30 Nebraska host families are needed for youth ages 12-17. Women and Platte River impact statement doesn't go far enough, whooping crane trust believes news program. Singleton said there were no plans to establish a news team in Lincoln. NTV has been talking with Fox Broadcasting about carrying its National Football League telecasts, but no firm commitment has been made. "Since there is not a Fox affiliate in our market, they were very interested." Singleton said.

Would NTV be competitive KETV? "I don't feel that we're competing with the Omaha station," Singleton said. "Their loyalty is to Omaha. It's outside our sphere of influence." IMissen's hearing in three deaths postponed again A hearing to allow a Falls City man to plead to charges in the killings of three people near Humboldt has been postponed again. An arraignment hearing Thursday for Marvin T. Nissen, 21, was rescheduled for April 21 after his lawyer made an amended motion to quash charges against his client.

It was the second time the hearing has been postponed to allow defense motions. Nissen faces three charges of first-degree murder in connection with the Dec. 31 shooting deaths of Teena Brandon, 21, of Lincoln, Lisa Lambert, 24, of Humboldt and Phillip De-Vine. 22, of Fairfield, Iowa. John Lotter, 22, of Falls City, also is charged with murder in the killings.

The men also are charged with kidnapping and raping Brandon a week before the slayings. District Court Judge Stephen Finn gave Nissen's lawyer, Peter Blake-slee, until April 4 to file a brief with his motion to quash. Prosecutors have a week to respond to Blakeslee's brief, according to court records. Lotter is scheduled to be in court to enter pleas to the charges Thursday. Breast Prostheses Mastectomy Bras Meridian Park 6900 St.

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Fee: $40 Succeeding With Difficult People County, Singleton said. "Lincoln is underserved by our stations," he said. "That's why we wanted to complete the coverage area to the east." Though NTV's rating area encompasses Hastings, Kearney and Lincoln, the signal has never come this far east. NTV, which has been under various ownerships over the years, has had a construction permit to build the translator station for some time. Fant Broadcasting bought the stations in December and decided to make it a priority.

"They (other NTV owners) started the project, and we're completing it," Singleton said. PROGRAMMING ON NTV includes the usual assortment of syndicated programs, but its news coverage obviously emphasizes central Nebraska. NTV also has an overnight If the impact statement's recommendations are adopted in the reli-censing agreement, flow increases would have to be implemented. But Emerton said he hoped FERC would go beyond that He said the draft impact statement is essentially a "modified Nebraska plan" that was developed by Gov. Ben Nelson, who brought parties together to come up with a recommendation to FERC.

"To the governor's credit, he decided to take an active role in this. He got the parties together. His plan has been described as a consensus proposal. We were involved in it, but it was not acceptable to the trust," Emerton said. possibility," he said.

Midway Lake Association vice president Roger Tederman of Gothenburg said his group has no plans to go to court over the fees. 10 most populai colors Now, at these savings, you can do all your windows at once with fashionable, practical tempered metal Hunter Douglas Mini-Blinds. Control your environment's light, temperature, privacy. Enhance your decor. Choose from our 10 most popular colors! Hurry! Limited Offer! Visa, MC welcome! 37th Calvert 488-2353 Mon.

Fri.8-6; Thurs, 8-8; Sat 10-4 to Custom Mini-Blinds The host family must have a youth the same gender and near the same age. The only cost to the family is the food, room and board for the student. LABO assumes all liabilities and financial responsibilities. The family doesn't have to be involved in 4-H to be a host, Swanson said. Anyone interested in being a host to a LABO student, or a longer-term foreign exchange student, should make contact by May 1 with a local cooperative extension office; by calling (402) 472-9021; or by writing 4-H Youth Development, 114 Ag Hall, University of Nebraska-Lincoln, Lincoln, NE, 68583-0700.

Self-Esteem Star and 8 IP 3 0 Journal Star Don't let difficult people threaten your self-esteem and raise your stress level! Learn about 10 patterns of difficult behavior and what you can do to cope. Wednesday, April 13, 6:30 p.m. Fee: $20 for lake lot fees challenged GRAND ISLAND (AP) The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission draft environmental-impact statement fails to go far enough to improve flows in the Platte River for migratory birds and other wildlife, says the director of the Platte River Whooping Crane Habitat Maintenance Trust. "I'm concerned it's not going to help enough," said Tom Emerton. "Overall, our feeling is we're disappointed they didn't change the base flows more." The statement is considered a crucial factor in power and irrigation districts' efforts to receive long-term licenses to operate Kingsley Dam at Lake McConaughy.

CNPPID's plan NORTH PLATTE (AP) A nonprofit group has asked a judge to temporarily halt the Central Nebraska Public Power and Irrigation District from going ahead with plans to charge annual lake lot fees. A court hearing is scheduled April 25 in North Platte to determine if a temporary 'injunction should be issued against the district. Lincoln County District Judge John P. Murphy scheduled the hearing in response to a petition filed Thursday in county District Court by Jeffrey Lake Development Inc. The petition was filed after the district's board of directors decided to begin charging annual lot fees of $300 in 1995.

Fees gradually will increase to $575 by 2000, then will be adjusted annually based on the 12-month consumer price index. A review and adjustment will be (11W Sis' Mis MWW'Zfi 1 WWTTF Go Ahead.Jake A Stroll On The Wild" Side, Lincoln Journal the 0 NIMALS made by the board in 2010. Four lake associations Jeffrey, Johnson, Midway and McConaughy have until June 1 to approve agreements or the district will begin cancellation proceedings. An injunction would delay that. Tim Anderson, the district's public-information officer, said the district believes it is on firm legal ground after a decision last week by State Attorney General Don Stenberg.

Stenberg said a state statute gives public power districts the power to "lease personal property and real estate reasonably for the conduct of its business." Bruce Smith of Lexington said the Johnson Lake Association is polling its members to find if further negotiation with the district would be beneficial. If not, litigation would be a "distinct "We'll raise it to $100 a game. We may raise it again from there if we decide it's necessary," DeMasseo said. Casino Omaha in Onawa wont allow unlimited bets, either, general manager Joe Massa said. Instead, the casino will set various limits for different games and tables.

That can't happen without the Omaha Tribe gaming commission's approval, which Massa anticipates next week. "Raising limits will be a positive thing as far as business goes," Massa said. "That part of the law, anyway." Betting limits fall by wayside as new law takes effect in Iowa 10 DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) Gov. i Terry Branstad signed a law Thurs-B day removing betting limits at float- A New Weekly Column Every Saturday. Written by Gary Bogue, this new feature brings us all closer to the wildlife with which we coexist.

From pet problems to society's natural wildlife issues, explore new perspectives on understanding our creatures' features. Bogue has written his column on pets, wildlife and the environment since 1970. Gary is director of Wild Systems Consultants and advises humane societies and pet and wild animal rescue groups. He is a naturalist and pioneer in the field of wildlife rehabilitation and has lived with mountain lions, eagles and hummingbirds. He has the scars to prove it.

ing casinos ana auuwuig siui ma- i chines at race tracks, niverrjoats can't lift their limits without voter approval, but the change was effective immediately for the three Indian casinos. So far, none is rushing to do so. The Mesquakie Bingo and Casino complex near Tama will keep the old $5 limit until Monday, casino manager Jim DeMasseo said late Thursday. And even then, the Mesquakie Tribe's casino won't remove betting limits entirely. Saturdays in The Lincoln.