By Angel Perkins Editor
    Though the thieves that stole the playground balls from the Triton Elementary playground have yet to be found, their intention of trying to ruin recess time—or at least, to make it a little less interesting— failed. An idea spearheaded by Bourbon Town Council member, Bourbon Police Officer and DARE Instructor Gary Collins, resulted in the town of Bourbon and the Bourbon Police Department helping out by donating eight balls: two basketballs, two soccer balls and four playground balls to the school Nov. 26.

    The theft happened Thursday, Nov. 6, just before school let out. Elementary educator  Teresa Watkins had just watched a student wheel the two, large, wire carts filled with various playground balls into the storage shed on the property and led the children in the building at 2:50 p.m. By the time the students had gathered their things to leave for the day, at approximately 3:05 p.m., (when playground staff went to lock the shed) the balls had been wheeled off the property.
    Officer Collins received the initial report the next day after school officials searched the area to assure someone hadn’t simply moved them elsewhere on the property. He searched the area for any signs of who had taken the items or where they might be and questioned parents that were parked near the scene (at the back of the school) to pick up their children—to no avail.
The police report states: “Parents were surprised to hear of the theft and how it could happen at that time in the afternoon when numerous vehicles are parked there awaiting school to let out.” Principal Jeremy Riffle sent out a request in the school newsletter sent home with students asking anyone having information about the whereabouts of the toys to let them know. But as of Nov. 26, no one had given any information.
“If I had to guess I would say there were six or seven balls in each (basket),” Riffle explained. “It happened within about a 10-minute time span. They were there when the sixth graders came in (from recess) and gone when they came back out (to leave for the day).” Collins and Bourbon Clerk-Treasurer Kim Berger presented Riffle with the balls Nov. 26 and Riffle stated that he “greatly appreciated it.”
    The theft is still considered to be under investigation.