By Rupert Howell
Maybe some hearts were lonely on Valentine’s Day evening when someone took their lovelorn grief out on buildings at American Legion Park with spray paint writing curse words and obscene gestures on walls of four buildings.

Batesville Police Investigator George Williford said Thursday that a $250 reward is awaiting someone with knowledge of the graffiti spree occurring at  the park last Friday night.
Patrolman Hal Merriman’s incident report said he responded to a residence on Park Street where a lady who was walking through the park noticed the graffiti that hadn’t been there the prior day and called the police.

City park officials were later called and covered up the most obscene parts of the graffiti.
City Parks Director Robert Lightsey is undergoing extensive medical treatment and Albert Norwood and Lightsey’s son, Brad, are assisting with the parks in his absence.

Williford estimated it will cost several thousand dollars to repaint the structures, noting that the concession stand, dugouts and restrooms all had graffiti.

According to Williford he has some suspects in mind and two empty cans of spray paint were recovered. Now he is looking for some solid proof linking those responsible to the crime and thinks the reward will prod those with information to come forward.
Williford or other PD officers can be contacted at 563-5653.