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63 °F Forecast | Road Cams Wednesday, May 5, 2004 Today's News | Classifieds | Autos | Homes | Jobs | Tempo | Health | Community | Home Delivery SECTIONS Home Page Local News Sports Business Obituaries Life Opinion - Politics AP News Weather Classified Archives Site Map EXTRA Newspaper in Education Personals Movie Times TV Times E The People CLASSIFIEDS Find a Car Find a Home Find a Job Find a Rental Place an ad eSouthernOregon Automotive Communities Entertainment Publications Recreation Calendar CUSTOMER SERVICE Frequent Questions Advertising Information Home Delivery Employment Contact Us Media Kit Network Affiliate Email Story to a Friend April 22, 2004 Vandals trouble Talent residents By JACK MORAN Mail Tribune TALENT — Just as this town is putting on a new face by renovating public spaces, vandals seem intent on ruining the changes. "There are people here who are working really hard to make this city look good," said Betty Wheeler, Talent’s city manager. "Someone seems to be following behind us, undoing all of the good work by vandalizing it." A Sunday night incident on Main Street where $275 worth of damage was done to three stylish new street lights and a park bench in Talent’s spruced-up "downtown complex" is just the latest in a string of occurrences that has frustrated city officials in recent months, Police Chief Bob Rector said. "We have had a series of vandalism problems in that general area in the last year ... where the city was the victim," Rector said. During the past year, police have responded to about 20 reports of vandalism and criminal mischief in and around the downtown complex, Rector said. The four-block area is home to Talent City Hall and other city property including a community center, library, park and skatepark. Advertisement A post office that sits adjacent to the skatepark has also seen its share of vandalism recently. Two fires have been set outside the building — one of them in a Dumpster, the other in a bush. In all, Rector said more than $5,000 in damage has been done to publicly owned buildings and property in the downtown area during the past year. City crews have been called upon to fix everything from graffiti-covered benches to a sink that was ripped from a bathroom wall, then smashed. "It’s getting tough to motivate people to fix those things over and over again," Wheeler said. "They’re getting discouraged. But if we ignore it, the city will start to deteriorate." Talent’s Urban Renewal Agency spent about $175,000 in public funds during the past few years to repave Main Street and install new lighting, bike lanes, landscaping and benches. Similar work along Front Street will be completed this year, said agency Director Marla Cates. Vandalism, Cates said, will not deter the group’s effort. "It’s depressing to see the vandalism happen, particularly when the city and the agency have taken steps to improve how things look and function downtown," Cates said. "Our job is to continue on and make capital improvements that benefit the community." While it’s just speculation, Rector wonders if out-of-town visitors to Talent’s skatepark might be to blame for some of the damages. "The Talent skatepark is very popular with what we call ‘transient’ skaters," he said. "The skate park’s users may be involved in (vandalism). But I don’t know. It’s just a possible theory." Added Wheeler: "It’s difficult to pinpoint who it is. They’re doing it at night, when no one else is around." Skateboarder Casey Tobias, 19, of Talent, said he’s not sure who’s responsible for the vandalism. He doesn’t believe anyone from his hometown is involved. "It’s not the local skaters who do this," said Tobias, who visited the skatepark Tuesday afternoon with three friends. "We have respect for this place. We realize that if we vandalize it, (the city) will shut it down." Rector is asking the public to phone the police department at 535-1253 with any information about vandalism in Talent. Reach reporter Jack Moran at 776-4459, or e-mail [email protected] Mail Tribune Home Local News | Sports | Business | Obituaries | Life Opinion - Politics | AP News | Archives | Site Map E Southern Oregon | Classified Copyright © 1997-2004 Mail Tribune. All rights reserved. Privacy Policy | Terms & Conditions Website Feedback 3 WEEKS FREE! ADVERTISERS A D V E R T I S E R S RESOURCES Oregon Road Conditions & Cams SPECIAL SECTIONS Auto Finder Job Finder Home Finder Joy Magazine Homelife Magazine Tempo Readers' Choice Real Estate Showcase Since We Asked Food for Thought Wellness Connection Outdoor Journal Moving to Southern Oregon? Volunteer Opportunities Prime Times