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Fowl thieves pluck fair's chicken statues

Photo

Submitted photo

Two of these chicken figures were recently stolen from in front of the Walworth County Fairgrounds sign in Elkhorn. The Elkhorn Police Department is still investigating the theft and $500 reward is being offered.

ELKHORN — Elkhorn police are seeking thieves who stole two metal chickens from the sign at the Walworth County Fairgrounds entrance.

The chickens were part of a welcome display, which includes chickens, a pig, a cow and a couple of horses. The animals are welded to a metal pin and cemented to the ground.

Elkhorn Police Chief Joel Christensen said the chickens have been missing since Oct. 6. There is a $500 reward for any tips leading to the return of the chickens.

Walworth County Fair Board spokesperson Sue Pruessing said the sign was developed in the last couple of years and was just finished this summer in time for the fair's 160th anniversary.

"Right now, I don't know that we have any leads," she said. "It looks like they tried to take our cow also and then decided to take the chickens instead."

Pruessing said whoever took the chickens must have had a "torch or a saw" because of how the statues were secured to the ground.

Pruessing said the sign was created with help from Gary and Sue Wallem of Elkhorn. They donated time, money and managed the project to completion.

The missing chickens seem to be result of a prank, Pruessing said.

"Why would they do this other than for the sheer fun to do a prank?" she added.

But it also could be plain theft.

"I hope it is not adults," she said. "I can't understand the mentality of doing this. If it was kids and it was a prank, please leave the chickens somewhere so we can get them."

The Walworth County Fairgrounds are not county-owned, she said, but the property is something of which the community as whole can be proud.

"It's not like it was my house and my mailbox was vandalized," Pruessing said. "We all take ownership on this. This is a community thing."

Tips on the missing Walworth County Fair chickens can be sent to the Elkhorn Police Department at (262) 723-2210 or Crime Stoppers at (262) 723-2677.