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http://www.omniture.com --> Sections Home Page Local News AP News Blogs Archives Business Classifieds Event Calendar Forums Life Opinion Obituaries Multimedia Photo Gallery Readers Photo Gallery Sports Tempo Weather Road Cams Special Coverage 2006 Britt Festivals --> Shop Our Valley AutoFinder HomeFinder JobFinder Search Our Valley Special Sections Distinctly Northwest Women in Business Homelife Magazine Joy Magazine Oregon Golf Info Oregon Wine Info Other Publications Local Links Ashland News eSouthernOregon Newspapers In Education Personals Moving Here Movie Listings TV Listings Volunteer Customer Service Advertise With Us Media Kit Place Classified Ad Contact Us FAQ's Home Delivery Site Map --> Email Story to a Friend March 20, 2007 Tallowbox vandals caught on film, authorities believe Three or more men damaged communications equipment at the mountain lookout station near Ruch By Mark Freeman Mail Tribune Police believe they have photographic evidence of at least three men vandalizing a communications equipment station Sunday on Tallowbox Mountain southwest of Ruch, temporarily interrupting Internet broadband service in the Applegate area, authorities said. ( See photos ) This is the second time in about three months that transmission equipment at the Tallowbox Lookout Station in the Applegate has been damaged. Vandals on Dec. 12 caused more than $100,000 in damage, destroying emergency communications service that has yet to be restored. On Sunday, at least three men apparently broke into Applegate Broadband's building, used a large rock to punch a hole in the floor and unplugged some equipment, Applegate Broadband owner Norm Young said Monday. "It wouldn't surprise me if it were the same folks" in both incidents, said Young, who was able to restore service later that day. "We just seem to have some guys obsessed with taking down the infrastructure out here," Young said. Advertisement And this time, a motion-sensor surveillance camera captured images of at least three men suspected in the crime. As of Monday, the men remained unidentified, though the images were "clear enough to allow identification of those involved," according to a news release by the Jackson County Sheriff's Department. Sheriff Mike Winters did not return several telephone calls seeking comment. Young said the entire facility on Tallowbox Mountain must be replaced. He said Sunday's vandalism disrupted service to "hundreds" of his customers, but he declined to be specific. "It could have been much, much worse," Young said. The sheriff's department has classified the vandalism as felony first-degree criminal mischief because the damaged property was a telecommunications system. In the Dec. 12 incident, also on a Sunday, at least two vandals set fire to and shot up the lookout tower and telecommunications outpost, damaging equipment belonging to Applegate Broadband as well as communications equipment used by Applegate Fire District No. 9, the sheriff's department, the Bureau of Land Management and the Oregon Department of Forestry. Some emergency service in the area has yet to be restored, Young said. Both cases remained unsolved Monday. Sheriff's deputies urged anyone with information on either crime to telephone investigators at 541-774-6800. A reward was offered for information leading to the arrest and conviction of those responsible, deputies said. Reach reporter Mark Freeman at 776-4470, or e-mail [email protected] . Would you like to respond to this story? If so Click Here to visit our forums. Advertisement Copyright © 1997-2007 Mail Tribune, Inc. All rights reserved. Privacy Policy | Terms & Conditions | Website Feedback online casinos news Home Security Systems Online Casino Reviews Trunks, Footlocker Fundraisers UK Homeowner Loans Casinos Canada Cord Blood Banking Discount Hotel Reservations Texas Electric Choice Compare Electric rates in Texas Windermere Van Vleet Men's Clothing Debt Help New Hampshire Primary