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Vandals strike memorial and restrooms at city lake
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| The Memorial Wall at the Winfield City Lake has been knocked to the ground and many of the plaques on the monument are missing. (Roy Graber/Courier) |
By TYLER GASKILL
Police and the City of Winfield are seeking information on a large amount of vandalism committed at the Winfield City Lake last week, according to Winfield Police Chief Danny Parker.
Several bathroom fixtures and a memorial at the north end of the lake were damaged sometime late Thursday or early Friday.
“A truck apparently took a chain and pulled over the Memorial Wall by Memorial Forest,” Parker said. “Then they broke every sink, toilet and urinal in the bathrooms on the north side.”
Winfield City Manager Warren Porter called the damage “senseless” and “a tremendous waste of time of those who have done the damage and a waste of the taxpayers’ money.”
According to Porter, the City has been fortunate in that they have dealt with very little vandalism at the lake in recent years.
“It’s virtually impossible for us to prevent vandalism at the lake,” Porter said, “especially during the off-season.”
The amount of money needed to replace the memorial wall and the bathroom fixtures is currently unknown, Porter said, but he believes it will be enough to warrant felony charges in the event the vandal or vandals are arrested.
The City is offering a reward of $1,000 for information leading to the arrest of those responsible for the damage, Parker said.
Winfield City Lake Supervisor John Crow said the Memorial Wall and Memorial Forest were started in 1973 by Dorothy Schwantes as a way for area residents to pay tribute to fallen war veterans.
“On the wall were plaques from people who had donated trees to the forest and the names of people they had donated them for,” Crow said. “People would donate money, and the City would plant a tree and put a memorial plaque on the monument.”
There were about 40 plaques on the monument, Crow said.
“They pulled the whole wall down,” Parker said, “plaques and all.”
If you have any information on the vandalism committed at the lake last week, call police at 221-5555, or to remain anonymous, call Crime Stoppers at 221-7777.
Several bathroom fixtures and a memorial at the north end of the lake were damaged sometime late Thursday or early Friday.
“A truck apparently took a chain and pulled over the Memorial Wall by Memorial Forest,” Parker said. “Then they broke every sink, toilet and urinal in the bathrooms on the north side.”
Winfield City Manager Warren Porter called the damage “senseless” and “a tremendous waste of time of those who have done the damage and a waste of the taxpayers’ money.”
According to Porter, the City has been fortunate in that they have dealt with very little vandalism at the lake in recent years.
“It’s virtually impossible for us to prevent vandalism at the lake,” Porter said, “especially during the off-season.”
The amount of money needed to replace the memorial wall and the bathroom fixtures is currently unknown, Porter said, but he believes it will be enough to warrant felony charges in the event the vandal or vandals are arrested.
The City is offering a reward of $1,000 for information leading to the arrest of those responsible for the damage, Parker said.
Winfield City Lake Supervisor John Crow said the Memorial Wall and Memorial Forest were started in 1973 by Dorothy Schwantes as a way for area residents to pay tribute to fallen war veterans.
“On the wall were plaques from people who had donated trees to the forest and the names of people they had donated them for,” Crow said. “People would donate money, and the City would plant a tree and put a memorial plaque on the monument.”
There were about 40 plaques on the monument, Crow said.
“They pulled the whole wall down,” Parker said, “plaques and all.”
If you have any information on the vandalism committed at the lake last week, call police at 221-5555, or to remain anonymous, call Crime Stoppers at 221-7777.
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The following are comments from the readers. In no way do they represent the view of winfieldcourier.com.
debby wrote on Nov 23, 2009 2:24 PM:
" That is just terrible. Why can't these kids just STOP tearing stuff up. That is sad that they are that bored to think they need to do that. "
MM wrote on Nov 23, 2009 3:01 PM:
" I hope that the coward(s) that did this get caught or do the right thing and turn themselves in.And that they have to pay every cent back and not have mommy or daddy do it.
This is pathetic. "
This is pathetic. "
trew wrote on Nov 23, 2009 4:04 PM:
" Not trying to make trouble, but why do people automatically assume actions like these are caused by kids. I think it gives that generation a bad name. Especially when it comes to drinking, even though the offenders maybe in there late 20's. I realize that a lot of time it is just from the perspective of those speaking whether your a kid or not. "
Under the rug wrote on Nov 23, 2009 4:57 PM:
" Doesn't make any difference if they are kids or adults, the main thing to remember is that they are IDIOTS! Actually, they are worse than IDIOTS, but the true description of them can't be printed here! "
B wrote on Nov 23, 2009 5:10 PM:
" Irregardless of whether this was done by kids or adults....they are criminals. This is just terrible. But lets hope that when these criminals are caught that they are held more accountable than those who torched the playground at Island Park. "
anonymous wrote on Nov 23, 2009 7:47 PM:
" Instead of just a felony conviction I think the person(s) responsible should have to write a note of apology to every single family member that this has effected. These were veteran's. They deserve more respect than that. So I say make the person(s) responsible pay restitution, write letters of apology and then ship them to the United States Army, Marines, Navy, National Guard or Coast Guard and drop them in the middle of the war zone to fight for our freedom. Maybe then they will understand what they have done. "
Sad time wrote on Nov 24, 2009 8:28 AM:
" This is not only a monument for veterans, but for those who have spent time at the lake and enjoyed many many weekends at the lake and donated their time helping keep our lake a clean and nice place to enjoy. I agree that mommy and daddy shouldn't pay but these type of people do not have the money to pay restitution so jail time is the only option to get their attention. "
RD wrote on Nov 24, 2009 9:02 AM:
" I COULDN'T AGREE WITH BRYAN MORE... WITH AN EMPHASIS ON "PATHETIC INDIVIDUALS" !! "
Kit wrote on Nov 24, 2009 10:44 AM:
" I agree....this was a stupid thing to do.
Oh....and nice to meet you 10 people who have never done anything stupid that you regret. I can tell just from the tone of your comments. "
Oh....and nice to meet you 10 people who have never done anything stupid that you regret. I can tell just from the tone of your comments. "
DW wrote on Nov 24, 2009 11:28 AM:
" How about making them serve Jail time and Community Service. Part of that service should be out at the lake where they destroyed things. Make them WORK off the money if they cannot pay. They should serve jail time and community service. That would get their attention more then just letting them sit in jail and get 3 square meals a day... "
RD wrote on Nov 24, 2009 1:03 PM:
" KIT,
I can assure you that I did some foolish things in my day. But one thing I would NEVER DO would be to disrespect our fallen war veterans like these idiots did. "
I can assure you that I did some foolish things in my day. But one thing I would NEVER DO would be to disrespect our fallen war veterans like these idiots did. "
amanda wrote on Nov 24, 2009 1:55 PM:
" This is horrible, what a shame and disgrace to our community. There is no excuse for this, kid or drunken "adult" "
Kate wrote on Nov 30, 2009 3:51 PM:
" One sad part about all this is the original memorial was made by Don and Dorothy Schwantes honoring their son, Rob who died much too young in a car accident. Later the community could purchase a tree in memory of a friend or family and the city would make a plaque stating the memorial. Several of those occasions were for veterans. Dorothy and her family have worked tirelessly at the Memorial forest caring for the plantings through the years. It's so sad that this vandalism has happened. "
Bryan wrote on Nov 23, 2009 2:17 PM:
What a tremendous disrespect. These are truly some very sad, pathetic individuals. "