'Jerks' vandalize tree
Residents outraged by damage to lights
Paul Bickford
Northern News Services
Published Monday, January 12, 2015
THEBACHA/FORT SMITH
The community Christmas tree in Fort Smith has been victimized by vandals in a Grinch-like act.
Fort Smith's community Christmas tree – shown when it was first lit up for the holidays on Dec. 6 – has been hit by vandals. - Paul Bickford/NNSL photo |
Sometime over the holidays, apparently just after the New Year, some of the new lights were hauled from the tree.
"Somebody went to the base of the tree and grabbed some of the strings of lights that were hanging down, and pulled down three or four strings," said Mayor Brad Brake, adding the vandalized lights were ruined when connections and wires were cracked.
As of last week, the mayor said only three strings of lights remained lit from the bottom to the top of the tree, along with some lights circling the bottom.
"It's looks horrible, actually, I'm sorry to say," the mayor admitted.
Brake described the vandalism as very disrespectful to the community.
"I'm very disappointed," he said. "That tree provides a lot of happiness."
Judging by numerous comments on social media, many other Fort Smith residents are also disappointed and angered by the intentional damage. Some of the words they use to describe the vandalism are 'disgusting', 'terrible', 'shameful', 'disgraceful' and 'awful', while another blasted the unknown vandal or vandals as "immature jerks."
Before Christmas, about $1,500 worth of new lights were installed on the tree.
Brake noted that NWT Power Corporation employees, who had donated their time to install the new lights before Christmas, tried to repair the damage, but determined it couldn't be corrected, nor could the lights be immediately replaced.
"Unfortunately, we had purchased all the strings that were available in town for that particular type of light," Brake explained.
Some people offered to provide replacement lights, but the town has ordered new lights to keep a uniform look to the tree.
It is expected the lights will arrive soon.
Brake said the town is hoping to have the tree fixed before turning off the lights after the holidays so the vandals can see the community is not willing to accept the damage.
"It's one of those things that we want to get straight," said the mayor.
The tree – often called the Schaefer tree – is on land owned by Salt River First Nation, but the Town of Fort Smith has decorated it every Christmas for at least the past 35 years.
