Four in court on property damage charges

BENTON, Mo. -- Four 16-year-olds will appear in court today to face charges of property damage in connection with $37,000 worth of destruction to the Benton Community Building in April.

According to a news release from Scott County Sheriff Rick Walter, damage to a new gym floor at the building will cost more than $20,000 to repair, and construction supplies worth about $17,000 were destroyed.

The damage was caused when the juveniles kicked over a water fountain in the gym, breaking a water line and causing water to soak through to the basement and into the supplies, according to Walter.

The juveniles said they were jealous over the attention given to athletes, and the new floor put in the gym for their use.