In one of my recent articles I wrote about some of my beliefs regarding the need for society to adopt a Bill of Responsibilities that parallels our Bill of Rights since without this there is no protection for the greater rights of society that outweigh what indiscretions some narcissistic individuals may feel the need to inflict on society as a whole.
In the last little while here in Meota the evidence of this type of behaviuor and the need to curb it came to light. It became evident someone had felt free to break into the skate shack at the outdoor rink. It was evident the culprit or culprits came prepared and that it was not a spur of the moment decision. When we looked at the locks it was obvious theys had been cut and the only tool that I know of to cut a padlock shackle in the way these were sliced apart would be a bolt cutter. I have used this type of tool myself, not for nefarious jobs, over the years and from that experience feel safe in suggesting this was the way the they disposed of the locks. It was obvious when the perpetrators headed out they had plans of committing this act.
Both the lock to enter the building and the lock into the storage locker inside were cut. It was evident a search for gas may have been part of the intent for the invasion. There were two gas containers taken and a number of pucks the caretaker would loan to kids. The culprits also tried to siphon gas from the snow blower and dumped some oil over the floors and equipment. The last laugh is on them since I happen to know there was very little gas remaining from last season so their efforts were largely in vain.
This is not the first incident of vandalism at the ice shack. I have been involved with Meota ADRA for about four and a half years, and in that time there have been a few other acts in which damage occurred. About four years ago the window was installed to try to improve the esthetics of the building. When it was installed plexiglas was used to try to make it less susceptible to damage and the cost was higher than if just regular glass was used. At the time it cost upwards of $500 for the materials. To say the attempt to stop damage was futile and short lived would be an understatement.
Within two weeks of the installation, the two panes of material were cracked and since these were thicker panes it took some doing to break them. We left the damaged panes there for quite a while but finally replaced them and this time there are expanded metal shields installed to deter further damage.
I know there are going to be complaints that the view of the ice surface is somewhat limited by this (and usually complaints come from those who are seldom willing to help raise the funds to enact the repairs,) but don't blame those who work to try and save the windows from future damage. Blame those who turn a blind eye to the antics that create the problem. To say, "Oh, they are just kids being kids," is a whole pile of recycled hay.
The overall outcome of these acts is that it costs money that others have worked hard to raise since this skate shack is only there and funded through the fundraising activities of volunteer hours given by community minded folks. This time the repairs cost more than $600. The next time, if the villains manage to break them, the solution is going to be boarding the window up and that would be a shame.
In other happenings around town the card players have had a few activities starting with canasta Oct. 14 where Beulah Corbeil and Anna Tucker were the winners. Oct. 17, in contract bridge, Eric Callbeck took first with Joe Pirot came in second. Oct. 18, it was on to duplicate bridge where first place went to the team of Glenn and Julie Moore with Vern and Judy Iverson coming in second. Oct. 24, it was back to contract bridge with Jette DaSilva taking top honors and Joyce Antoine placing second. Then, Oct. 25, it was Ray and Marnie Davie placing first in duplicate bridge with Frank Antoine and Mary Greenwald following in second place. Oct. 27 in Kaiser action, first place went to Ken Tucker, second to Beulah Corbeil, third to Anna Tucker and Bernice Tait took fourth. Oct. 28, it was canasta with Arlene Walker and Muriel Tebay winning the day. Oct. 31t, it was back to contract bridge with Robert Iverson winning first place and Judy Iverson coming second. At a duplicate bridge session Nov. 1 Ray and Marnie Davie place first and Bea Novlan and Jim Hamilton came in second.
Quote: "There are no passengers on spaceship Earth; we are all required to be crew." Marshall McLuhan
