REWARD OFFERED FOR SIGN THIEVES

BLOOMFIELD -- Stoddard County is getting serious in dealing with a serious problem: The theft of county road signs.

The County Commission Monday authorized a reward of $100 for information leading to the arrest and conviction of anyone stealing the signs.

Offering a reward is the latest effort by local county officials to deal with a problem that is plaguing rural counties in Missouri -- road signs that are missing or knocked down. Associated Commissioner Frank Sifford offered the motion authorizing the reward; Associate Commissioner Ray Coats agreed to it.

"There's a very real danger that somebody might not find where they're going," said Presiding Commissioner Jerry Elder, referring to ambulances and other emergency service providers, such as fire and police agencies. "One of these signs being down might cause somebody to die," he said.

Elder said he believes it's young people who are responsible for the missing signs, often taken as a souvenir or because the numbers on the sign have a particular significance to the person taking the sign.

"Stoddard County will prosecute to the fullest extent if we catch somebody with one of these signs," Elder said.

Missing and knocked-down signs are a concern of Stoddard County 911 Services and the Stoddard County Ambulance District, which receives the bulk of the 911 calls made within the county.