By Vanessa Lenz
SLN Staff
The staff at Home Lumber Company was shocked to discover upon returning to work Saturday morning that vandals had destroyed the large wooden American flag that has graced its front entrance for more than a decade.
General manager John Padinger said the vandals did the damage at its location at 499 W. Whitewater St. sometime Friday night or early Saturday morning. He said the Whitewater Police Department discovered the destruction at 3:13 a.m. on Oct. 6.
Padinger said the 8-by-16-foot sign was ripped down from the building and smashed, leaving the bulbs that lit it in pieces.
The incident remains under investigation by the Whitewater Police Department.
“It’s a sad day for Whitewater when something like this happens,” said Home Lumber president Geoff Hale.
Hale said the incident upset him so much that he is offering a $1,000 reward for information in the case that leads to an arrest and criminal conviction.
He speculated that more than one person was present to trash the flag because of its size and the fact that it was bolted to the building with metal brackets.
Hale said there has been a marked increase in vandalism in the area since the start of the school year.
He said this was the sixth or seventh vandalism incident at the store this year; however, this one hurt because it damaged the company’s spirit.
Whitewater police chief Lisa Otterbacher said her officers have also noticed an increase in vandalism this year, specifically to the areas south of West Main Street.
“We have increased our bike and foot patrol initiatives and conducted a targeted operation last Thursday specific to disorderly behavior, vandalism and open intoxicants,” Otterbacher said.
She said the Whitewater police department has made over 25 arrests during this initiative.
“Senseless acts of vandalism are frustrating and hurtful to the victims and detract from our community and we intend to continue the targeted enforcement,” Otterbacher said.
The flag display at Home Lumber has become a landmark for the family-operated lumber facility.
It was constructed after the Sept. 11, 2001 terrorist attacks.
“We were lighting it every single night as a tribute to those who lost their lives in the Twin Towers on 9/11,” Hale said.
Hale said Whitewater residents have grown to appreciate Home Lumber’s signature flag, which has been featured in Whitewater’s annual Fourth of July parades and other events around the city through the years.
Hale said he plans to restore the 9/11 tribute sign, which he purchased for about $2,000.
Home Lumber has been in Whitewater for more than 125 years.
Otterbacher said there is no evidence of a political motive by the vandal(s).
She said the department doesn’t currently have any leads, but encourages individuals with information about the crime to contact the Whitewater Police Department.
“Whitewater is a safe community, but unfortunately we are not immune to crime and disorder,” she said.
Otterbacher reminded locals to keep residences, businesses and vehicles secure and well lighted and immediately call in suspicious activity.
“(This is a) highly effective way the community can partner with the police department to help detect and deter crime and eliminate senseless destruction of valued personal property,” Otterbacher said.
To report information about the vandalism at Home Lumber, contact the Whitewater Police Department at (262) 473-0555. Individuals who wish to remain anonymous can call the TIP Line at (262) 723-2677.
