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Repeated vandalism costs club, community thousands
By S.L. Furedi
A recent break-in at the Fernie Lions Demolition Derby concession building will cost the club thousands of dollars to repair and replace the damage.
Club spokesman Rick Ganter says they were informed of the vandalism by a citizen who had noticed it. When club members inspected the site, they were shocked at the level of damage done.
“We’ve been hit in the past by what was probably young idiots who used paintball guns to wreck the siding, but this was a degree of vandalism that really shocked us. Whoever was down there had to be pretty determined to boot out a steel door from its frame to gain entrance. And for what? There’s nothing to steal in our cook shack. It’s just got old fridges and freezers and a metal grill,” says Ganter.
But the grill and a deep freeze were tipped over, boards from the steps and railings were removed, presumably to be burned in a nearby bonfire, and the club will have to pay to repair the damage, and possibly purchase a new grill if the old one is beyond repair.
“The sad thing about this, the money we will shell out to repair this mess, that money could have gone to a family with a sick kid, or to help out a senior in this town. It could have gone to fund a teen athlete or help out a group of deserving young people. Instead, because some young idiots with nothing better to do than get drunk on private property that doesn’t belong to them decided to then destroy property that doesn’t belong to them. Where do they learn that kind of thing is okay?”
The RCMP has been to the scene and the investigation is ongoing. Anyone with information is asked to please contact the Elk Valley RCMP.
