County offers $2,000 reward for vandals |
| June 22, 2011 |
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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." |