Program Helps Residents Solve Neighborhood Disputes

For five years Mavis Wendt listened to her neighbor’s citizens band radio conversations. They poured through her television, telephone and radio from early morning until late at night.

“It was nerve-wracking,” she says.

Her grandchildren couldn’t play Nintendo at her home because the video game picked up the broadcasts, filled with profanity. Last month, with the help of Safe Streets Now, Wendt took her neighbor, Gary Hutto, to small claims court and was awarded a $1,500 judgement.

“That was my last resort, taking them to court,” says Wendt, who lives on East Diamond Avenue in Hillyard. “I didn’t know what else to do.”

Safe Streets Now, a program operated by the Spokane Police Department, helps residents organize and take action against problem neighbors, usually drug dealers and party houses.

“Safe Streets Now provides an outstanding opportunity for people with ongoing frustrations in their neighborhood to deal with them without getting into lawyers and high costs,” says Dick Cottam, Police Department spokesman. “They will lead you by the hand and help you through it.”

With the help of Nancy Lewis, a Safe Streets Now representative, Wendt recorded dozens of samples of the CB conversation coming through her telephone, and took pictures of the television screen interference.

Hutto says Wendt didn’t need to take her complaint all the way to court.

“All she had to do was call and ask nicely, and I would have taken care of it,” he said.

He’s operated the CB radio from the same house for 23 years and said he’s had only a few complaints.

He says during November’s ice storm, by using his radio, he was able to help people with no phone service.

Hutto adds that he’s not the only CB’er in the neighborhood, and that the voice on some of Wendt’s recordings isn’t his.

Wendt says she called her neighbor several times about the problem since 1993. She even bought electronic filters to eliminate the interference, but they weren’t effective.

“I just want my mother back, she has been a nervous wreck with this going on,” says Wendt’s daughter, Gloria Gilbert. “There was nothing else she could do to make this guy stop,” adds Lewis.

The Federal Communications Commission was contacted about the “bleed” and sent a letter telling Hutto to reduce his power, but the problem stopped only temporarily.

Hutto did not appeal Judge Donna Wilson’s ruling by the Jan. 7 deadline. He and his wife sent Wendt $5 and a note explaining they will pay her the $1,500 award at $5 per month.

“I can’t accept that,” says Wendt. “I’m 69 years old. I won’t be around to see that $1,500 paid that way.”

But more important than the money, Wendt says she finally has relief.

The CB interference stopped Jan. 3 and she hasn’t had a problem since. “Boy, is it wonderful,” says Wendt.

, DataTimes ILLUSTRATION: Photo