The Reminder is making its archives back to 2003 available on our website. Please note that, due to technical limitations, archive articles are presented without the usual formatting.
Flin Flon RCMP don't know who would want to rip a children's play structure from the ground and roll it down a hill, but they hope to find out. Sometime between 8 o'clock last Wednesday evening and 7 o'clock the following morning, a group of vandals did just that to a toddler jungle gym near the Joe Brain Children's Petting Zoo. "It's unsolicited," said a clearly disappointed Cst. Bryan Bowskill. "This doesn't affect anyone but the small children in the community." Cst. Bowskill estimates at least four to six people would be needed to move the roughly 400-lb. structure, which included two slides, a climbing apparatus and a steering wheel. After tearing the City-owned jungle gym from the ground, the vandals pushed it down the nearby hill stretching to the field near McIsaac School Ecole McIsaac. It was found scattered in at least three pieces Thursday morning. The structure, which would cost as much as $8,000 to replace, was damaged beyond repair, leaving children visiting the zoo and park area with one less recreational option. "This was nothing but an act of vandalism that had no purpose," said Cpl. Leslie Beck. "There was nothing to be gained." Flin Flon Director of Recreation Brenda Russell hopes to replace the jungle gym but noted that it won't be feasible to do so this summer. Police ask anyone with information on this crime to contact them at 687-7488 or Manitoba Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477. Callers to Crime Stoppers need never reveal their identity and may become eligible for a cash reward.
