County reports new rash of sign vandalism
By Brandy Nance (Contact)
Originally published 01:24 p.m., April 24, 2008
Updated 01:24 p.m., April 24, 2008
Sign vandalism continues in Lyon County with a rash of signs paintballed last week costing the county more than $700.
Lyon County Engineer Chip Woods told Lyon County commissioners during their weekly study session that more than 30 signs were paintballed a week ago in Lyon County. This includes five stop signs; two yield signs; three weight limit signs; one curve sign; 17 object marker signs; one reverse curve sign; three flood area ahead signs; and one do not pass sign. The estimated cost of replacing the signs and labor is $739.40.
“The estimate was prepared for the sheriff’s department and does not include equipment cost,” Woods said in a memo to Lyon County commissioners. “... the labor cost is our best guesstimate as not all the signs have been replaced.”
Woods said once the signs have been paintballed, they have to be stripped of the paint, which causes the sign to lose reflectivity. The signs then have to be re-faced, which is a labor-intensive process. In last week’s case, the signs had to be replaced and the damaged signs taken to the shop for repair.
In other business, Lyon County Undersheriff Richard Old discussed appropriating $1,150 to pay tuition for two detectives to attend forensic photography workshop in Emporia. The person doing the training is nationally known, Old said.
“I hope to get five to 10 years experience transferred to my guys in a week’s time,” Old said.
Commissioners placed the item on today’s consent agenda.
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Posted by Blackshirt (anonymous) on April 24, 2008 at 1:49 p.m. (Suggest removal)
If "the person" is so nationally known then why don't we get to know the persons name? Lyon County Sheriffs Department, home of the smoke and mirrors.
Posted by pmh61 (anonymous) on April 24, 2008 at 4:17 p.m. (Suggest removal)
I hope these kids stop doing this but did it really cost that much?......They are metal signs some soap and water should clean them right up. Or was there paint chipped off of them ? I would like to know more about this? Also if it cost them $700 or so dollars to replace them just think of the money the tax payers could have saved if they put up two more signs to make a 4-way instead of making a round-a-bout, in graphic arts... that is horrible.
Posted by coldhardtruth (anonymous) on April 28, 2008 at 7:57 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Paintballs come off with just water, no soap needed. Just the rain is usually enough to clean up paintballs. And unless they were frozen paintballs, I can't imagine one chipping paint on a sign, even at point blank range. If they were that dangerous, people wouldn't be shooting them at each other. People should just be glad they're just using paintballs and not firearms. I see tons of signs with bullet holes in them that have been there for years. Why don't they need replaced?
Posted by neighbor (anonymous) on April 29, 2008 at 2:15 p.m. (Suggest removal)
I too doubt the paintballs are destroying the signs. Plot the sign locations frequently vandalized on a county map LYSO staff and you will know where to start looking. They are stupid, they will be back. Make note of what day it occurs the most on. I also suggest visiting with the limited number of locations where you can buy paintballs locally to narrow your suspect list. This worked very well 14yrs ago when road sign and mailbox vandalism was rampant NW of Emporia towards Dunlap. As quick as the county replaced signs, and people replaced their mailboxes, they would be knocked down again within days. There were 5 juvenile Emporia residents caught in a old beat up car with grass hanging down from underneath it from going thru ditches, they had baseball bats and two mailboxes in the back seat with them from their most recent trip on the same route they always followed. If I remember correct, they were proven to be responsible for over 170 roadsigns and countless mailboxes. One of the boys was on probation, for road sign vandalism no less.
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