July 2, 2007
Kansas
Kansas
As public sentiment remains strong regarding the proposed Ellis County wind farm, signs expressing both opposition to and support for the project have sprouted up inside Hays city limits, along Interstate 70 and throughout the county.
A total of about 30 professionally printed signs against the project have been posted, and police reports have been filed for the vandalism of two such signs located on Golf Course Road, said Chuck White, a detective with the Ellis County Sheriff’s office.
“There’s really no suspects listed at this point,” White said. “We’re just patrolling the area, kind of keeping an eye on the situation.”
The first report of vandalism was filed by wind farm opponent J.P. Michaud on June 22, regarding a sign located at 170th and Golf Course Road, he said. The value of the loss was reported at $140.
It’s believed the act of vandalism occurred June 21 or 22, White said.
A second report was filed Wednesday by Janet Werth, White said. The sign was located on the 1100 block of Golf Course Road, with $240 in damages.
Both signs expressed opposition to the proposed project; black spray paint was used to mark a message of support. However, it remains unclear whether the two incidents of vandalism were connected, White said.
“We don’t know if the two instances a week apart are related or not,” he said.
The sign located at the 1100 block of Golf Course Road reads “Iberdrola, keep your ugly wind turbines in Spain.”
The message etched on the large sign with black spray paint reads “support wind energy,” and includes doodles and the numbers “4:20.”
The other side of the sign also had been vandalized, but has been replaced, Michaud said.
Michaud has had several signs professionally printed and has posted them on the property of willing landowners, he said.
“We are using whatever means we can to reach people and get them to think about the impact of this development,” Michaud said.
By Kaley Lyon
2 July 2007
URL to article: https://www.wind-watch.org/news/2007/07/02/vandals-deface-wind-signs/