'Vote no' graffiti doesn't say 'Hyperion'; fliers do
By Michele Linck Journal staff writer | Posted: Tuesday, April 08, 2008
An unknown person painted "Vote No" on S.D. Highway 48 just west of Spink, S.D. (Sioux City Journal/Jerry Mennenga)
ELK POINT, S.D. -- Union County authorities are looking for vandals who went on a graffiti spree Friday afternoon, painting "VOTE NO" on the pavement in at least 11 different spots along S.D. Highway 50 and S.D. Highway 48 east of Interstate 29.
ELK POINT, S.D. -- Union County authorities are looking for vandals who went on a graffiti spree Friday afternoon, painting "VOTE NO" on the pavement in at least 11 different spots along S.D. Highway 50 and S.D. Highway 48 east of Interstate 29.
They also sprayed the message in a large number of spots on several county roads, Sheriff Dan Limoges said.
The sheriff's office initially put out a press release stating the graffiti read "VOTE NO HYPERION," referring to Hyperion Resources, the Texas company which recently received zoning to build a 400,000-barrel-per-day oil refinery in southern Union County. That zoning will go to a referendum on June 3 and opponents and proponents are beginning to mount campaigns to sway voters on what's become a divisive issue in the community.
Limoges apologized for the error in the original news release. He said his information came from workers at the local South Dakota Department of Transportation facility. He said the "VOTE NO" graffiti was linked to the refinery due to paper fliers tacked up on state highway signs near the graffiti that did read "VOTE NO HYPERION."
The fliers bore the state's slogan, "Great Faces, Great Places," and showed Mount Rushmore, Limoges said. "But it had it all smoggy-looking, and on the fliers it had 'Vote No Hyperion.'
"It's pretty obvious they were related," he said.
A road crew had sandblasted away most of the spray-painted messages by midday on Monday.
Refinery opponents and supporters both denounced the vandalism. "We have no knowledge of who might have done it and certainly our people are aware that is not the appropriate way to express your opinion," said Ed Cable, co-chairman of the anti-refinery group Save Union County Committee. "We have signs for that."
J.B. Mercer, co-chairman of Citizens for Hyperion, said, "I just hope whoever does it gets caught. It's not something that we advocate."
Limoges said the graffiti is considered vandalism, a crime. Crime Stoppers is offering a reward of up to $1,000 for information leading to an arrest and conviction in the incident. Anyone with information about it is asked to call Crime Stoppers at 605-356-2679 and may remain anonymous.
Hyperion Resources received special zoning in March to construct the refinery on 3,292 acres of farmland about seven miles north of Elk Point in southern Union County. The prospect of the refinery has caused neighbors on various sides of the issue to quit socializing and created divisions within even 100-year-old church congregations, residents say.
tomorrow......
ELK POINT, S.D. -- Union County authorities are looking for vandals who went on a graffiti spree Friday afternoon, painting "VOTE NO" on the pavement in at least 11 different spots along S.D. Highway 50 and S.D. Highway 48 east of Interstate 29.
They also sprayed the message in a large number of spots on several county roads, Sheriff Dan Limoges said.
The sheriff's office initially put out a press release stating the graffiti read "VOTE NO HYPERION," referring to Hyperion Resources, the Texas company which recently received zoning to build a 400,000-barrel-per-day oil refinery in southern Union County. That zoning will go to a referendum on June 3 and opponents and proponents are beginning to mount campaigns to sway voters on what's become a divisive issue in the community.
Limoges apologized for the error in the original news release. He said his information came from workers at the local South Dakota Department of Transportation facility. He said the "VOTE NO" graffiti was linked to the refinery due to paper fliers tacked up on state highway signs near the graffiti that did read "VOTE NO HYPERION."
The fliers bore the state's slogan, "Great Faces, Great Places," and showed Mount Rushmore, Limoges said. "But it had it all smoggy-looking, and on the fliers it had 'Vote No Hyperion.'
"It's pretty obvious they were related," he said.
A road crew had sandblasted away most of the spray-painted messages by midday on Monday.
Refinery opponents and supporters both denounced the vandalism. "We have no knowledge of who might have done it and certainly our people are aware that is not the appropriate way to express your opinion," said Ed Cable, co-chairman of the anti-refinery group Save Union County Committee. "We have signs for that."
J.B. Mercer, co-chairman of Citizens for Hyperion, said, "I just hope whoever does it gets caught. It's not something that we advocate."
Limoges said the graffiti is considered vandalism, a crime. Crime Stoppers is offering a reward of up to $1,000 for information leading to an arrest and conviction in the incident. Anyone with information about it is asked to call Crime Stoppers at 605-356-2679 and may remain anonymous.
Hyperion Resources received special zoning in March to construct the refinery on 3,292 acres of farmland about seven miles north of Elk Point in southern Union County. The prospect of the refinery has caused neighbors on various sides of the issue to quit socializing and created divisions within even 100-year-old church congregations, residents say.
tomorrow......
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Brilliant deduction wrote on Apr 9, 2008 12:03 PM:
Too bad they can't find the people throwing beer cans in the ditch. "
Fix This wrote on Apr 9, 2008 11:50 AM:
while sandblasting.
Next you will see Vote yes? "
Dirty Tricks wrote on Apr 8, 2008 10:47 PM:
june 3 wrote on Apr 8, 2008 9:12 PM:
cs wrote on Apr 8, 2008 7:48 PM: