Pharos-Tribune

Local News

September 28, 2008

Blind for Freedom Hunt destroyed

<b>DNR offering $200 reward for tips leading to arrest.</b>



Freedom Hunt is a chance for a group of special needs kids under the age of 15 to sleep in tents, fish the Eel River and go deer hunting the weekend before the regular season begins.

According to Cass County conservation officer Brenda Louthain, Freedom Hunt coordinator Steve Griffey discovered the battered blind while setting up yardage markers to help determine shot distance for the kids.

“The blind got totally destroyed,” Louthain said.

The blind had its sides slashed and fiberglass poles snapped. Louthain called the criminal act senseless. Owned by the Indiana Hunter Education Association, the blind is valued at about $300.

The crime occurred sometime between Sept. 20 and Tuesday on property in rural Cass County near the Eel River.

Law enforcement would like to capture those responsible for the vandalism. To aid their efforts, the Indiana Department of Natural Resources is offering a $200 reward.

The culprit(s) may have driven down a long lane on private property to where the blind was set up. Louthain said tire tracks were left at the scene, which was near the Eel River on land owned by Jim Rogers.

Louthain said Rogers had not given anyone besides the Freedom Hunt participants permission to be on his land.

Possible charges are trespassing and criminal mischief.

Louthain said the vandalism will not prevent any of the kids from participating. There is plenty of equipment and hundreds of acres to hunt.

This year’s group of 12 hunters will enjoy a weekend of camping, games, activities, fine food and the creation of friendships. To qualify for the weekend, the kids had to have a special need, whether it was a physical or mental disability or a financial handicap. Each youth hunter must attend hunter education and gun safety classes to be eligible to buy a hunting license.

Griffey said numerous businesses and individuals contributed thousands of dollars of hunting equipment for each hunter.

Last year, out of 10 hunters, three deer were tagged.

Kevin Lilly can be reached at (574) 732-5117, or via e-mail at kevin.lilly@pharostribune.com

Text Only | Photo Reprints
Local News
Community Calendar
Loading…
Events by eviesays.com
Featured Ads
More pharostribune.com
Hyperlocal Search
Premier Guide
Find a business

Walking Fingers
Maps, Menus, Store hours, Coupons, and more...
Premier Guide
Popular Searches
Powered by Local.com
AP Video
Obama Scraps Birth Control Mandate US Airmen's Killer Sentenced to Life in Germany Navy Names Ship for Gabrielle Giffords Raw Video: Deadly Blasts in Syria Romney Slams President Obama at CPAC Gingrich: Pres. Obama 'waging War on Religion' 5 Killed in Wrong-way Crash on I-10 in La. Uzbek Man Pleads Guilty in Plot to Kill Obama Denver's Largest-Ever Drug Bust Nets Dozens Marines: No Punishment for Nazi-like Flag Vets Look to Translate Military Skills Into Jobs Raw Video: School Bus Burst Into Flames LA School Reopens Amid Sex Abuse Scandal $25B Settlement Reached Over Foreclosure Abuses Pentagon: Allow Women Closer to Front Lines LA School in Sex Abuse Scandal Reopens Raw Video: Italy's Mount Etna Bursts Into Life Greeks March; Angry Despite Debt Deal Air Force Airlines: Leaders Get Polished Service Ga Girl Fights Off Kidnapper at Walmart
Parade
Magazine

Click HERE to read all your Parade favorites including Hollywood Wire, Celebrity interviews and photo galleries, Food recipes and cooking tips, Games and lots more.
Poll

The Indiana Senate last week approved a bill that would allow public schools to teach creationism in science classes as long as they included origin of life theories from other religions. Would you support such a measure?

Yes
No
Not sure
     View Results

eEdition