Shattered Again

Calendar August 5, 2006 | Posted by Aubrey Turner

As I mentioned earlier this week, someone had smashed the mirror on the Bear Creek walking trail at Rufe Snow.  Yesterday evening as I was walking through the area I noticed that the mirror had been replaced. 

I was glad to see it replaced, but that mood was to be short-lived.  Going through there today I saw that the mirror had been smashed again, apparently with a brick (which was on the ground directly below the mirror). 

I’m going to go out on a limb and say it’s probably a group of teenagers hanging out under that bridge, so maybe the crap will stop when school starts next week.  I wonder how much those mirrors are costing us, though.  I’m guessing that two foot diameter convex mirrors aren’t exactly cheap.

The more I think about it the more pissed off I get.  I hate vandals of all stripes.  I see no art in tagging and absolutely no excuse for throwing bricks at anything.

I’d suggest snipers, but some people would accuse me of being insufficiently sensitive to the social plight of the poor youths and their lack of appropriate social outlets…  rolleyes

Category Categories: Keller Stuff

2 Comments

  1. hschauf says:
    August 7, 2006 at 8:33 am

    The broken mirror I saw out there a few weeks back was just below and beside a bridge.  It was just after dust and it was rather dark underneath the bridge…. and there was a group of pre-teen/teen boys hanging out beneath it. 

    I’ve decided this trail isn’t safe enough for me to walk alone if it is getting dark- even though I feel like it is a good neighborhood.

    I’m wondering if a good light there might discourage some of the congregating?

  2. Aubrey Turner says:
    August 7, 2006 at 11:45 am

    I think you’re talking about the same mirror as I am.  I’m only aware of two mirrors on the entire path, one at the Rufe Snow overpass, and another at the curve just as you descend into the first large open area next to the pasture.

    I’ve definitely seen some pre-teens hanging out under that bridge at times.  I think some of it’s just bored BMX’ers who got tired of playing in the woods and most of them seemed harmless to me, but then I typically go through there fairly early (usually before 8:00pm).  I wouldn’t be surprised at all to find older teens hanging out there at later times. 

    If I’m going to be out walking late (i.e. 9:00pm or so), then I typically go to Bear Creek Park.  I’ve encountered a few teens there, as well, most of whom are harmless (mostly volleyball players).  However, I did have one instance where some skateboarders asked me if I had any weed to sell.  confused   But then they didn’t exactly look like rocket scientists…

    Anyhow, I suspect good lighting would help, provided they didn’t just break the lights.  I wonder if KPD is aware of the problem?  Just in case they aren’t, I think I’ll shoot an email to Scott Bradburn (KPD’s community relations officer).