Tuesday, October 28, 2008
Pike County Fiscal Court Cracking Down On Stolen County Road Signs.
Pikeville, Ky.—The Pike County Fiscal Court is offering a $300 reward to anyone who contributes information leading to the arrest and conviction of persons who have stolen county road signs.
“Theft of the county’s road signs has to stop. These signs are very important and very expensive. Too important and too expensive to hang in the houses of adults, adolescents or college students because they consider them to be attractive pieces of artwork,” said Pike County Judge/Executive Wayne T. Rutherford.
“I want everyone in this county to know that if they have a road sign anywhere in their house, they, their children, and everyone living in that house is violating state law. Parents need to be sure their children know the severe consequences they will face if they choose to steal these important identifiers. Because they will be prosecuted when we catch them,” Rutherford added.
The Court’s decision to offer a reward came after the October 7 Fiscal Court Meeting, where several magistrates voiced frustration at having to replace the signs.
“I’m still having a time with people stealing road signs in my district. I have had to replace 115 signs this year from Jonancy to Dorton,” said District Two Magistrate Vernon “Chick” Johnson.
“These people are endangering lives, maybe even their own. If an ambulance driver is trying to find someone whose life is in danger, and he’s prevented because someone has removed the sign he’s looking for to guide him, and the delay from that missing sign causes the person to die, then I feel that the thief who stole that sign has blood on his hands,” Johnson said.
“The Pike County Attorney’s Office is committed to stopping the dangerous act of theft of road signs, and we will be treating these thefts as felonies,” said Chief Assistant County Attorney Roger Varney.
If anyone has knowledge as to the whereabouts of Pike County road signs, he or she is urged to contact the Pike County Judge/Executive’s office at (606) 432-6247, or their local magistrate’s office.
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“Theft of the county’s road signs has to stop. These signs are very important and very expensive. Too important and too expensive to hang in the houses of adults, adolescents or college students because they consider them to be attractive pieces of artwork,” said Pike County Judge/Executive Wayne T. Rutherford.
“I want everyone in this county to know that if they have a road sign anywhere in their house, they, their children, and everyone living in that house is violating state law. Parents need to be sure their children know the severe consequences they will face if they choose to steal these important identifiers. Because they will be prosecuted when we catch them,” Rutherford added.
The Court’s decision to offer a reward came after the October 7 Fiscal Court Meeting, where several magistrates voiced frustration at having to replace the signs.
“I’m still having a time with people stealing road signs in my district. I have had to replace 115 signs this year from Jonancy to Dorton,” said District Two Magistrate Vernon “Chick” Johnson.
“These people are endangering lives, maybe even their own. If an ambulance driver is trying to find someone whose life is in danger, and he’s prevented because someone has removed the sign he’s looking for to guide him, and the delay from that missing sign causes the person to die, then I feel that the thief who stole that sign has blood on his hands,” Johnson said.
“The Pike County Attorney’s Office is committed to stopping the dangerous act of theft of road signs, and we will be treating these thefts as felonies,” said Chief Assistant County Attorney Roger Varney.
If anyone has knowledge as to the whereabouts of Pike County road signs, he or she is urged to contact the Pike County Judge/Executive’s office at (606) 432-6247, or their local magistrate’s office.
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# posted by Joe Kinzer @ 11:58 AM 
