[MSN] Police need public's help to ID suspect in Columbia Gorge thefts

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Police need public's help to ID suspect in Columbia Gorge thefts

11:45 AM PDT on Wednesday, September 6, 2006

By ANTONIA GIEDWOYN, kgw.com Staff

Police are asking the public for help identifying who stole two commemorative bronze plaques from separate locations in the Columbia River Gorge along the Historic Columbia River Highway.

One of the stolen plaques.

Oregon park ranger aides discovered one of four bronze plaques had been stolen from a large rock at the entrance to the Portland Women’s Forum along the highway, east of Corbett. The plaque was apparently chiseled and cut from its mounting on the north side, opposite from roadway traffic.

The stolen bronze plaque is a work of art that is part of a set and contains an important story, according to Robert W. Hadlow, Senior Historian for the Oregon Department of Transportation.

In the early 1930’s, friends of entrepreneur Samuel Hill honored him for spearheading construction of the Columbia River Highway by adorning a 50-ton basalt boulder moved from Rocky Butte Quarry to the Portland Women’s Forum State Scenic Viewpoint. They commissioned Seattle sculptor Alonzo Victor Lewis to design several bas-reliefs for the rock.

Shortly after the first theft discovery, the ranger aides noticed a second bronze plaque had been stolen. This one was from the Guy W. Talbot Memorial located west of Latourell Falls. It appeared someone cut the plaque from its four metal bolts drilled into the rock base.

Gus W. Talbot was a president of Pacific Power & Light Company. He and his wife donated the seed acreage for a park named in his honor.

“The state parks in the Columbia River gorge are as much a historic experience as a scenic one,” said Dave Wright, Assistant Director for Operations with the Oregon Parks and Recreation Department. “This loss harms the state park system, and we need anyone who has information about the theft and current location of the plaques to contact the State Police immediately.”

Authorities ask that anyone with information about the thefts call (800) 452-7888.

http://www.kgw.com/news-local/stories/kgw_090606_news_bronze_gorge_plaques_stolen_.72970cba.html