Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: THURSDAY, April 27, 1995 TAG: 9504270071
SECTION: CURRENT PAGE: NRV-2 EDITION: NEW RIVER VALLEY
SOURCE: RICK LINDQUIST STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: RADFORD LENGTH: Medium
"It's not a practical joke," Asbury fumed Wednesday. He said the city plans to track down, arrest and prosecute the culprits. Asbury announced the theft at Monday's City Council meeting.
It's also not the first time thieves have nabbed the big wooden signs that greet visitors entering the city's West End from Interstate 81 or the East End on Tyler Avenue. Police reported the First Street sign missing April 15.
Deputy Police Chief Jonny Butler thinks the sign still is in town and eventually will turn up.
"All of us take that as a personal affront when somebody does that," said
Asbury said the theft of the sign - valued at approximately $1,500 - is a felony. "It's a very serious crime," he said.
The original custom-made welcome signs initially were stolen in 1992. Both signs later were recovered, but the Tyler Avenue sign was too badly damaged and had to be replaced. The new sign subsequently was stolen again.
That welcome sign, missing for about a year, was quietly returned unharmed earlier this month by attorney Jimmy Turk Jr. Apparently, it had been in the home of a Radford University student who knew it was stolen, got nervous about having it around and contacted Turk about returning it.
When told of the sign's return during a City Council meeting, Mayor Tom Starnes advised City Engineer Jim Hurt to keep it as a spare. "We'll probably have to use it again," he said, little realizing how quickly his words would come back to haunt him.
City crews will install the "spare" sign this week.
by CNB