Pranksters deface Ashville tower - "could very well be a Homeland Security issue "

[The Straight Story]

Pranksters deface Ashville tower

Trish Bennett

ASHVILLE - Ashville residents discovered a big red surprise when the sun rose Friday morning to reveal a large "S" posted over the "H" atop the village water tower on state Route 752.

While officials suspect a senior prank was responsible for the defacement of the 150-foot tower, they are now left to repair the damage and determine if the stunt crossed the line as a federal crime.

"It was definitely a high-risk thing to do," said Franklin Christman, village administrator.

High-risk not only for safety reasons, Christman said, but for breaking and entering into a restricted area that involves a public water supply. The perpetrators cut through the lock on the security gate to gain access to the tower.

"It could very well be a Homeland Security issue where we have no choice but to file charges," he said. "Public water systems are protected areas, and they probably didn't think of that when they did it."



http://www.circlevilleherald.com/main.asp?SectionID=3&SubSectionID=98&ArticleID=106317

[Bluebear]

1. CODE RED!!! Break out the powdered milk, duct tape and canned tuna!

[truebrit71]

2. What a colossal joke that would be...

...What a fucking stupid application of that "law"...

FUCK the dept of Fatherland security... :grr:

[hobbit709]

3. They want to make it a crime because THEY didn't adequately do their job.

Give me a break. It says a lot about their "security" if all it took was a pair of bolt cutters.

[shain from kane]

4. So, there have been terrorist attacks, since 9/11. This probably happens once a week somewhere in

good ol' USA.

[mikelgb]

5. "It could very well be a Homeland Security issue where we have no choice but to file charges,"

"Because someone said 'terra' we may have to throw common sense out the window on this one..."

No choice

how about the crimes of the administration? clearly there is a choice there...

[tuckessee]

6. Lock down, baby! Martial Law. Call out the Jarheads!

Credible intel sources and chatter indicate these same "pranksters" were seen purchasing a massive quantity of toilet paper and are planning an assualt on area oxygen recyclers (trees).

[Subdivisions]

7. ...

[Beausoleil]

8. Kids have been defacing watertowers for decades

but now it's "terrorism". What a putz!

Sounds like the kids had the name right. "Putzville" would have required more work.

[sinkingfeeling]

9. Oh, for god's sake. Kids have been climbing water towers and writing stuff on them for decades.

Nobody thought it was a federal crime!

[Gormy Cuss]

10. It could very well be a prank, Mr. Christman.

With administrators like you it's no wonder someone changed the H to an S.

[lumberjack_jeff]

11. This is a job for strike force Needermeyer.

[RaleighNCDUer]

12. It doesn't pay to forget

the KGB has no sense of humor.

[MidwestTransplant]

13. WE MUST NEVER LET OUR GUARD DOWN. THE GOV'T MUST USE ALL AVAILABLE MEANS TO BRING

THESE PURPS TO JUSTICE. TO THE FRIENDS OF THE PERPS, YOU ARE EITHER WITH US OR YOU ARE WITH THE TERRARISTS.

[supernova]

14. At least they were courteous enough to paint on paper

then hang the paper, and not paint directly on the water tower. :D

[Bozita]

15. Terra-ists ... coming soon to a water tower near you.

Be afraid. Very afraid.

The terra-ists have invaded our shores and are preparing to unleash their thousand-pronged attack on loyal Americans.

I'm peeing my pants right now, but if anybody asks, I'll tell 'em I was caught in a rainstorm.

[Vickers]

16. "To improve security for the tower, facilities managers are now going..."

"...to put TWO padlocks on the gate in order to more adequately protect the town's water supply."

[gatorboy]

17. Huh huh.

..ass....

[Ganja Ninja]

18. If you've ever climbed a water tower with a can of spray paint to ...

defend your sister's honor, you might be a red neck.