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Serving Northern St. Louis County, Minnesota

Graffiti appears to target miners

Keith Vandervort
Posted 12/7/16

ELY—The Ely Police Department is investigating several incidents of graffiti vandalism that occurred in the downtown district over the weekend.

As many as three buildings were spray-painted with …

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Graffiti appears to target miners

Posted

ELY—The Ely Police Department is investigating several incidents of graffiti vandalism that occurred in the downtown district over the weekend.

As many as three buildings were spray-painted with derogatory messages such as “Mining is for pussies,” and “Why can’t miners get over it?” The vandalism apparently occurred sometime Friday night and was discovered Saturday morning.

Tom Omerza, president of the Frandsen Bank said his building, at the corner of Sheridan Street and 1st Avenue East, was vandalized near the drive-thru window side of the building. “I was headed to Two Harbors when I was told about it,” Omerza said Monday afternoon. “Construction crews who were working on a renovation project inside the bank covered up the words as best they could,” Omerza said.

The north wall of the Napa Auto Parts store was also vandalized. Those words were still visible as of Monday afternoon. The graffiti message on a vacant building in the 100 block of Sheridan Street West was covered up with paint over the weekend.

The website ElyMinnesota. com, is offering a $750 reward for information leading to the arrest and prosecution of the vandals involved. Website operator Richard Watson encouraged anyone wishing to contribute to the reward fund to contact him at 365-5511 or 218-235-1698.

The Police Department is investigating the matter and was unavailable for comment.