County offers $2,000 reward for vandals
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June 22, 2011 |
The Bonners Ferry High School Class of 2011 is
no different than the graduating classes of
those who matriculated before; 99% great kids
who have a bright future.
Perhaps the 1% of misguided kids who have
wreaked havoc on Boundary County are "achievers"
as well ... in 18 years with the Idaho
Transportation Department, local maintenance
supervisor George Shutes has never seen this
much damage.
So aggregious is the malicious damage to
property, Boundary County Commissioners on
Tuesday approved a $2,000 reward for information
leading to the arrest and conviction of whoever
is responsible for everything from "tagging"
public property with the epithet "2011" to
removing the grates from the Moyie Bridge,
something Shute's crew detected before it caused
what could have been a terrible accident.
"If a car would have hit the empty grate, it
could have easily left the bridge," said
Boundary County Commission chair Ron Smith.
Several county and state road signs have
disappeared ... something that could be tragic
if someone who needs help can't get it.
The county and the state have already paid much
more than the price of the reward repairing the
damage that has occurred ... and that doesn't
count the cost paid by property owners to repair
damages on their property.
"I want to make it clear that I'm not blaming
the Class of 2011," Smith said, even though it
appears that someone from that distinguished
class is expressing exuberance in the worst way
possible. "In a way, I feel betrayed, because I
and several students from that class worked hard
to garner support for the supplemental levy, and
the taxpayers of this county agreed that
supporting our schools is essential.
"Now those very same taxpayers are having to
foot the bill to clean up the mess."
All local law enforcement agencies are serious
about bringing an end to the rampage, and if the
person or people responsible are caught and
convicted, they will likely work for years to
repay the damage they've wrought.
If you know who may be responsible, contact the
Boundary Couty Sheriff's Office, (208) 267-3151.
If it's happening before your eyes, call 911. If
you happen to be one of the people involved in
wreaking the vandalism, stop.
It might be "fun" and a "challenge" today, but
in the years ahead, when you own property, pay
taxes and raise children, hopefully in Boundary
County, you'll come to know that the exuberance
of youth is fleeting, and you'll look back at
the rest of your life saying, "I shouldn't have
done that." |
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