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Vandal defaces 'Peter Rabbit' sign

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By the Lincoln Journal Star

Wednesday, Sep 03, 2008 - 06:39:46 pm CDT

For a brief moment this weekend, an unknown vandal made it looked like the owners of Hickman’s last horse had a change of heart.

A 4-by-9-foot sign that read “Save The Horse” that was leaning on an outbuilding on the Harley Scott family’s property in Hickman had a Ghostbusters-like red circle and slash painted over it.

The horse — named Peter Rabbit — has lived on the Scotts' land, on the 18800 block of South 68th Street, for some 30 years. But when the land was incorporated into the city, it put the horse in violation of a city code banning large animals. The Scotts have until Sept. 15 to comply with the city code, meaning the horse has to go.

Story Photo
Harley P. Scott keeps his 30-year-old horse Peter Rabbit penned next to his house in this Aug. 7, 2008, file photo. Hickman annexed the property in December 2006 and now wants him to get rid of the horse. (LJS File)

The family is opposed to that idea. So too, once, was the sign.

According to a Lancaster County Sheriff's Office report, the sign was defaced between sometime late Saturday night and 8:30 a.m. Sunday. Deputies found no footprints and have no suspects at this time, according to the report.

The sign was valued at $5, according to the report.


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Tiger wrote on September 3, 2008 6:22 pm:
" So Hickman expanded their city limits and just think it's okay to now tell these people their in violation of the law because of that. I would think this horse and Scott family are grandfathered of this legal issue. I would think Hickman has an legal right to force them to get rid of a pet just because they expanded their city limits and put these people in violation of the law where they weren't before. This horse and family are grandfathered and to heck with Hickman city and Lancaster co. officials for not seeing this. "

 pck wrote on September 3, 2008 6:54 pm:
" What the vandals did is nothing compared to what the city is doing. "

 Follow the story Tiger wrote on September 3, 2008 7:45 pm:
" As much as I agree with you Tiger...if you read the back stories on this the family pushed to be annexed into the city limits...with the belief the horse would be okay.
My thought is this...Hickman already has made a TERRIBLE name for itself and now vandalism! Gee I should pack up and move to Hickman...sounds like a swell small town :)
I'm all for Peter Rabbit and I think the family should keep him there regardless of the outcome because as far as I'm concerned 30 years living there makes Hickman PETER RABBITS TOWN! "

 Les wrote on September 3, 2008 7:54 pm:
" This is pretty low. What is the horse hurting? Hickman should be ashamed. "

 Mr. Goodsense wrote on September 3, 2008 8:01 pm:
" If people today only cared as much about children and their fellow humans... "

 Rick wrote on September 3, 2008 8:25 pm:
" Every person in Lancaster County, including all visitors should boycott Hickman. "

 Rally Time wrote on September 3, 2008 8:45 pm:
" Looks like its time for these council members names to appear on animal rights groups web sites. I might have been born at night but it wasnt last night.This is a few people wanting to show their power, as they could grandfather the horse as well as other things are grandfathered in but they want to show the people how strong they are.I am glad its their reputations which I dont think the people will let them forget.Give me a piece of land in Hickman and I would give it to the city mission for even though those people may be poor they are not heartless. "

 Responce to Rick wrote on September 3, 2008 8:51 pm:
" Hickman days next year would be a good time to bring this up "

 Emily wrote on September 3, 2008 9:08 pm:
" Rally Time - you are right on the mark. It's somebody flexing their muscle. I have sent the story out to about 15 websites that I have that are for animals' rights. And no - I'm not a bleeding heart - this is just an example of being idiots. Hickman should be remembered for this. The town is a disgrace. "

 disgusted wrote on September 3, 2008 9:46 pm:
" And you thought "hill-billy" stuff was only in the south... Take a really good look around you, it's here too. If you're not disgusted, then you are not paying attention! "

 Ummm wrote on September 3, 2008 10:08 pm:
" Folks...you should know, Jack Scott a former Mayor passed an ordinance banning livestock to include horses within the city limits of Hickman. Now, years later his parents asked to be annexed. If I was Peter Rabbit I would be feeling a bit betrayed by my owner. It's not the current Mayor or the city council's fault. Remember, be careful what you ask for! "

 Hickman Resident wrote on September 3, 2008 11:10 pm:
" Jack Scott was never a former mayor. If you're going to blog get the story straight. I'm familiar with this situation and I'm placing my bets on the Scotts to come out the winner! Council & Mayor choose your battles. "

 mitchy_v wrote on September 4, 2008 7:48 am:
" Sad story, but the land owner should have read the fine print. "

 Beaker wrote on September 4, 2008 8:17 am:
" I have been avoiding Hickman for years. Now i know why. Very petty to treat this grandfathered property that way. It seems there are deeper issues that have to be resolved here.

It is a horse. At least it doesn't bark, crow, meow, or cockadoodledoo under your window at odd hours. It certainly doesn't do it business in your yard, driveway, flowerbeds, or kids' sandboxes. "

 mitchy_v wrote on September 4, 2008 8:49 am:
" Grandfathered in doesn't apply here. The horse was not part of the town when the ban went into effect. The property owner asked to be annexed, he took on the town ordinances too. "

 Ignignokt wrote on September 4, 2008 8:54 am:
" I was back Kearney this past weekend, a town of about 30,000 people, and there at least two horses that I know of which reside within city limits. Compare this to a town of about 1,500 people in Hickman, where the leaders can't stand to put up with one old horse for a couple more years at most. Kearney is still growing at a rapid rate...and Hickman? Well, I would imagine their potentiality for future growth is now diminished. "

 CONNIE wrote on September 4, 2008 8:59 am:
" Let the horse stay where it is at. It's life expectancy is almost over. Then enforce the policy or enforce the policy to any new horse's. What has it done to bother people so much that it was OK up until now. Let it die!!!!!!!!!!!!! Just make sure that any new horse's don't have this privilege. "

 Wrong Tiger wrote on September 4, 2008 9:01 am:
" It's called imminent domain and it is legal for Hickman to do. "

 boycott hickman wrote on September 4, 2008 9:16 am:
" Someone suggested to boycott Hickman. What would we boycott? The casey's store or the subway? Good idea. Not. "

 Enough wrote on September 4, 2008 9:52 am:
" Come on people, enough is enough. Move on, get over it, and spend your time debating something else because there's plenty of other topics that deserve this much time and energy spent on them. This issue needs to be put to rest! "

 The Horse Should Go wrote on September 4, 2008 10:24 am:
" He's wants to have his cake and eat it too. He was ok to have his land annexed and cashed the check from the developers, but now that something's not going to go his way he thinks the law should change? Sounds like he's wanting to double dip. Peter Rabbit should have to go! "

 Hickman resident wrote on September 4, 2008 10:45 am:
" The Scotts asked for annexation and it was approved. And as Mr. Scott was a former city council member he must realize that he is not above the city's laws/codes.

I can't have a horse on my lot in Hickman and have to have it penned up in the country. Why should he have more rights than I.

People need to stop commenting unless they know the whole background of this story that has come up in the last few months but has been a pending issue for years that the council has been nice enough to table in meetings to let the horse stay. But it is time for it to go. "

 living elsewhere wrote on September 4, 2008 10:47 am:
" If you don't live in Hickman, then don't judge the situation from the outside. You are mostly just hearing one side of the story without the history of a lot of issues. I would still prefer living in Hickman, then the city of Lincoln, especially after reading all of these posts. What judgemental people! "

 me wrote on September 4, 2008 11:05 am:
" too bad. i agree, at least the horse does not go in my yard, or flowerbeds, or have a owner walk down the sidewalk and let it go in my yard and not pick up doo doo. i will not buy anything or go to hickman
ever again and spend any money. it is too bad, many towns have horses
grand fathered in, hickman heydays, forget it, jack and jill forget it,
body shop, bar forget it. never again.... "

 Huh wrote on September 4, 2008 11:40 am:
" LOL, are you suggesting it's now legal for Hickman to take the horse. That's what emminent domain means, I'm not sure what you're talking about, but it is never legal for any town to take personal property (which I would think a horse is). Let the horse stay, Hickman stop being so stubborn. Do you kick out old people too? "

 Maggie wrote on September 4, 2008 11:54 am:
" To the Mayor and City Council - You had an opportunity to redeem yourself.
Let the horse live it's last days out. For Pete's Sake and Peter Rabbits, have you not gotten enough bad press nation wide?
It is no longer a legal issue for the vast majority, it is a human interest story.
Is your power and pride worth all of this?
I repeat Hickman the town without a heart! "

 Hickman resident wrote on September 4, 2008 11:58 am:
" People if you want this to be over then you need to contact the mayor and city council people. They have indicated several times people living out of Hickman don't count (probably only at Haydays) and have no voice in Peter Rabbit. Boycotting isn't the solution. Hickman is a great place to live and raise children. There is a "rest of the story" and shortly it will come out......Mayor's head is too big for his job title and the council people are clueless. Go to a meeting and find out.....It's a joke. "

 me wrote on September 4, 2008 12:36 pm:
" I wonder what all the businesses have to say, they can see what is happening???no matter what, the horse should stay and live its last years out. it has been a icon for years on the corner. ask whitehead what he thinks? he owns the opposite corner, i won't go in his store, or any other from now on...whatever happened to the small town hickman used to be? boycott the town..... "

 How about a BBQ wrote on September 4, 2008 3:57 pm:
" with rabbit as the main course. I'm Kidding. I think that Peter Rabbit should be allowed to stay for the rest of his life even though his owners signed off on the HICKman law. Go Rabbit go. "

 Read Hickmans Website wrote on September 4, 2008 7:27 pm:
" If you go to Hickmans website, you get the whole story from start to finish. Sad to say I was on the horse's side until I read the info on the website.
My one tip to all, get the entire story before you comment or form an opinion. "

 wrote on September 5, 2008 7:27 am:
" They called the police over a $5 sign? You have go to be kidding me! "

 The whole story wrote on September 5, 2008 8:08 am:
" In spite of the history of people and their actions, the horse will most likey be traumatized by a move. If his "family" is trying to pull something off by first passing an ordinance that restricts livestock and then a few years later asking for annexation with the expectation that they'll keep their livestock, well that is not Peter Rabbit's fault. He is 30-some years old, a horse doesn't live much longer than that. Just let him stay and die at home. Please. "

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