Turkey, trout stolen

This past week, the Platte Valley was witness to what one may call odd thefts.

The rash of thefts began in Riverside. According to Lee Ann Stephenson, co-owner of Lazy Acres Campground, the Town of Riverside had installed the last of its three repainted and repaired entry signs on September 22. Just five days later, on September 27, it was discovered someone had stolen the Turkey Crossing sign north of Riverside on Wyoming Highway 230.

According to Stephenson, it appeared that someone “of less than stellar breeding” had used a battery operated Sawzall to cut through the 2x4s holding the sign in place.

The second theft took place in Saratoga on the evening of September 28 at the office of the Saratoga Sun. The newspaper, having entered the Platte Valley Arts Council’s annual Hay Bale Sculpture contest, enlisted the help of local artist Jerry Wood in constructing a wooden rainbow trout. The hay bale sculpture was erected on Friday and went untouched that night and most of Saturday.

Sunday afternoon, however, it was discovered the rainbow trout had been stolen.

“It’s quite discouraging that someone would feel the need to take this rainbow trout, something that was intended for a fun public art event,” said Joshua Wood, interim publisher for the Saratoga Sun. “Whether a local or a tourist, I hope they think better of their actions and return the trout.”

In the cases of the Turkey Crossing sign and the wooden trout, it is asked the items be returned. Both the Stephensons and Wood said there would be “no questions asked” if the guilty parties were to return the stolen items. Mayor Stephenson is offering a $100 reward for any information related to the theft of the Turkey Crossing sign.