The fountain at Memorial Garden on Main Street in Melfort was the target of mischief twice in one week. (Facebook/Melfort Communities in Bloom)

By Angie Rolheiser

Fountain damage

Mischief at Memorial Garden fountain for the second time in a week

Aug 24, 2020 | 12:00 PM

For the second time in a week, the fountain at Memorial Garden on Main Street in Melfort was the target of mischief.

The flower planters that surround the fountain were tipped upside down inside of it during the evening of August 21.

(Facebook/Melfort Communities in Bloom)

Peggy George with Communities in Bloom (CIB) told northeastNOW this senseless act won’t deter the group’s efforts.

However, the fountain will be cleaned up will not run again until the spring.

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“If we had stopped way back in 2004 and 2005 when we first started the program every time a planter was dumped over, we would have missed 17 years of beautifying this beautiful city,” George said.

The CIB group members that maintain the area hope the dirt and mud in the base of the fountain hasn’t hurt the pump but that will remain unknown until the spring.

The fountain was also vandalized in the fall of 2018 when it was left in pieces. The fountain ran perfectly all throughout the summer of 2019 but has been the target for more mischief this summer.

“Nothing else has been damaged as far as we can tell, but it’s not real good for a pump to be pumping muddy water,” George said.

There are cameras in the area so there is surveillance footage of the suspects in action according to George.

“There can always be better lighting and that is something we have talked about, if these things are happening when it’s dark then lighting is what we might need to expose it more,” George said.

RCMP have been contacted about the incidents and anyone with information is asked to report it to the Melfort detachment.

On the evening of August 15, along with the planters being tipped into the fountain, planters in front of Dress Well with Giselle were tipped over and several plants were pulled in front of George Home Hardware.

“I really feel that every once in a while, there is just a bad batch of people,” George said. “It runs its course and after a while they get bored with messing with other people’s stuff or get occupied with something else.”

For the most part, residents are very appreciative of the work of the CIB group of volunteers.

The word disappointed doesn’t seem to cover the topic of the recent mischief to planters around the city.

“What do plants ever do other than beautify and clean the air and make people happy?” George said. “That is the frustrating part. I don’t get what thrill you can get from pulling a plant and smashing it into the ground.”

George said there have been 10 different plant pots that have been destroyed.

“It just wrenches my gut to throw them out because they are still living and we are just throwing them into the garbage,” George said.

She said it’s so hard to see this type of destruction in a place that is meant to be so relaxing.

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angie.rolheiser@jpbg.ca

On Twitter: @Angie_Rolheiser