|
|
Published October 13, 2008 09:46 pm - Dirty tricks aren’t unknown in a tight campaign, but over the weekend, someone crossed the line. Specifically, someone crossed the property line and swiped the dozen or so campaign signs that Dr. Donald Patterson had placed in his yard at 210 Duquesne Road. Patterson placed the signs in the yard to show support for the John McCain-Sarah Palin ticket, Kenny Hulshof, Peter Kinder, Roy Blunt and other Republicans. “I had all my signs out, and it just annoyed the hell out of me,” said Patterson, 81, a former general practitioner in Joplin.
Political-sign heists irk victims
By Andy Ostmeyer
aostmeyer@joplinglobe.com
Dirty tricks aren’t unknown in a tight campaign, but over the weekend, someone crossed the line.
Specifically, someone crossed the property line and swiped the dozen or so campaign signs that Dr. Donald Patterson had placed in his yard at 210 Duquesne Road.
Patterson placed the signs in the yard to show support for the John McCain-Sarah Palin ticket, Kenny Hulshof, Peter Kinder, Roy Blunt and other Republicans.
“I had all my signs out, and it just annoyed the hell out of me,” said Patterson, 81, a former general practitioner in Joplin.
He initially placed the signs outside the fence along his frontage on Duquesne Road.
Patterson went to Republican headquarters Monday and loaded up with some new lawn signs, but the office was out of the ones for McCain-Palin.
“I put them on the inside of my fence, but you can’t see them as well,” he said.
“We have talked to dozens of people who have had their signs swiped,” said John Putnam, chairman of the Jasper County Republican Central Committee. He said workers have even put up a sign at the GOP headquarters advising people to report the theft of signs to police.
Jean Wienberg, regional press secretary in Southwest Missouri for the Barack Obama campaign, said Democrats, too, have been the victims of vandalized and stolen signs.
“Unfortunately, this is something that happens around every election,” she said, adding that Democratic officials have not noticed an uptick this year.
Cpl. Chuck Niess, spokesman for the Joplin Police Department, said the theft of signs doesn’t seem to be any worse this year than in previous elections.
“A lot of it is kids,” he said. “I don’t know that it’s a big plot to support one candidate over another.”
But for Patterson, the issue runs a little deeper than a mere prank. He was born in 1927 in Joplin and served as a gunner on a B-17 over Europe during World War II. He enlisted at age 17. He later acquired his medical degree and served as a flight surgeon during the Korean War.
•
Click to discuss this story with other readers on our forums.
|
|
Announcements



: Special Offer For New Subscribers
:


 |
|
TRUCK DRIVERS NEEDED
for local construction project, must have CDL and experience on construction site belly dumps. 417-206-0930....>MORE
See all ads |
|
2002 KIA OPTIMA EX
4 door, sharp, loaded, leather, CD, sunroof, extra nice, $3200. 1317 Schifferdecker, Joplin....>MORE
TOYOTA 2004 TACOMA PRERUNNER
Toyota, 2004 Tacoma Prerunner, TRD off road, double cab, V6, new tires, CD, bed liner, lid cover, 100,000 miles, excelle...>MORE
2002 BUICK RENDEZVOUS
4 door, luxury leather trim, loaded, CD, sunroof, beautiful rig, extra nice, $4500. 1317 Schifferdecker...>MORE
1999 FORD EXPLORER LIMITED
4x4, leather loaded, $3500. 417-850-0731....>MORE
2003 SATURN L200
4 door, 4 cylinder, 127,000 miles, $4495. 417-434-0925...>MORE
1999 CADILLAC SEDAN DEVILLE
Delegance, Michelin tires, Northstar, vinyl top, loaded, $3900/or offer. (417)850-0731....>MORE
1999 PONTIAC GRAND AM
2 door, spoiler, sharp, loaded, automatic, air, CD, extra nice, $2600. 1317 Schifferdecker, Joplin....>MORE
1998 CHEVROLET TRACKER
removable hard tops, automatic, air, CD, sharp, $2500. 1317 Schifferdecker, Joplin....>MORE
2002 FORD TAURUS SE
nice car, 3.0 liter V6, $2900. 417-850-0731....>MORE
2001 DODGE RAM 1500
SLT/shell, 71,000 miles, 5.9l V8, tow package +, super condition reduced $7690. 417-358-5395....>MORE
See all ads |
|
NEWER 3 BR/2 BA
Lots of upgrades and great location. $149,000 but all offers considered. 903 Katlin, Carl Junction. Pictures www.fsboloc...>MORE
525 E. 41ST, JOPLIN, MO
to be sold at auction December 5th or before. Lovely all red brick home on large corner. 4 bedroom, 2 bath, double...>MORE
3 ACRES
3 ACRES more/less with pond. Nice park-like setting, just minutes from Range Line. Close to area of newer homes. $19,900...>MORE
Deerfield Estates
in Carl Junction, prime building sites, reduced $10,000 each. 417-825-0052...>MORE
See all ads |
|
YORKIES
12 weeks old, 2 males, AKC, 1st shots, $175. 417-291-6590, Webb City...>MORE
DIAMOND SOLITAIRE
Pear-shaped, one carat, diamond solitaire in gold setting. $2,000. Please call 417-825-3238...>MORE
(2) TEACUP CHIHUAHUA
APRI puppies. (417)673-1997....>MORE
5TH WHEEL
5TH WHEEL, 2004 Prowler Regal, 26’, 2 slides, loaded, nice. (620)674-2127....>MORE
ENGLISH BULLDOG PUPPY
male, AKC, fawn/white, champion bloodlines, $900 or best offer. (417)396-3340...>MORE
MALTESE PUPPIES
2 gorgeous AKC males, 8 weeks on 11/30, all shots/vaccines, $200 each. 417-325-4340 ...>MORE
ANTIQUES FOR SALE
blue sette $350 2 lamps $75 coffee table $35 2 half side tables $35 2 mauve 60's chairs $225 will e-mail photos. 417-673...>MORE
NEW IN BOX
New in box, Lucchese cowboy boots, black, size 9D, $200. (620)231-9256...>MORE
POODLES
POODLES, standard pups, born 10/10, registered, shots, wormed, family raised. Adorable personalities! 417-673-3892....>MORE
SCHNAUZERS
one white puppy, one registered silver adult female, one white adult male. (417)437-0300....>MORE
See all ads |
|
 |
|