RAGBRAI XLI Countdown – July 21-27, 2013
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“Welcome to Mitchellville” Sign is Missing
Mon, Aug 15, 2011 | by TJ Juskiewicz
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We received a letter from a city official in Mitchellville (the first stop after Altoona on Thursday on the way to Grinnell) that their welcome sign is missing. It will cost the city approximately $1,200 to replace this sign. Apparently this also happened when RAGBRAI visited back in 2006.
This is not the type of behavior that RAGBRAI is known for. We would appreciate the swift return of the sign, no questions asked. We want to be welcome to visit all towns in Iowa, so we hope this was an isolated mistake that will be quickly remedied. Let’s not ruin a good thing that we have going.
Contact RAGBRAI at tj@ragbrai.org or 515-284-8289. Thank you.
53 Responses on ““Welcome to Mitchellville” Sign is Missing”
Julie
August 18, 2011 at 9:54 am
TJ ~ any chance we can see a regular update on how big the donation pile is? This negative event can certainly and easily be a positive one for the rest of RAGBRAI lovers who are NOT thieves! 
(I’ll be the thief didn’t register! )
C’mon, Mitch …start registering and stop stealing! You’ll feel better!!
sunny7
August 19, 2011 at 6:04 am
I didn’t ride this year, but will send in $10 because RAGBRAI should be all about welcome and generosity, not the bad press that idiots like this give it.
TJ Juskiewicz
August 19, 2011 at 7:22 am
According to the city, they have received only one donation of $5. I’m sure they have had a few more since then. I appreciate the generousity of riders that certainly outweighs the individual that took the sign. I’m personally sending a donation as well.
Here is a story that ran yesterday. http://www.woi-tv.com/story/15293982/mitchellville-mystery
JC
August 22, 2011 at 11:25 pm
They really think someone on a bicycle took this? Now that is a bagger!
IMO it’s probably a local who takes the opportunity of RAGBRAI chaos as a diversion for tomfoolery. Especially since this seems to be the only town to have an issue in all of the RAGBAI towns over all the years.
Blame the ride for beer cans and cliff bar wrappers in the ditch, but look a little closer to home for heavy duty theft like this…
TJ Juskiewicz
September 1, 2011 at 10:59 am
Just a quick update. Mitchellville has received over $300 in donations to help replace the sign. They appreciate the funds and the nice notes that they received. Thanks TJ
julie in milwaukee
September 7, 2011 at 7:55 am
thanks for update.
Gregonline
September 19, 2011 at 7:51 pm
TJ how’s bout a final count on how much Ragbrai sent the city?
It would just be nice to know
TJ Juskiewicz
September 27, 2011 at 4:46 pm
RAGBRAI riders raised a total of $340. Thank you, I know Mitcheville appreciates the generosity.
TJ
RoyAlaska
January 23, 2012 at 7:00 pm
Was the sign ever recovered?
Randi
February 2, 2012 at 12:28 pm
There is a sign hanging back up… I am not sure if the original was returned or if they ended up purchasing a new one though…. I was wondering the same thing…
D Shannon
June 10, 2012 at 4:38 pm
I agree wity JC.I am not buying that RAGBRAI riders were involved. Get real folks
jwsknk
June 11, 2012 at 1:05 pm
But now we know, “the truth is out there” and so is the sign, a teenage alien has on his wall. http://blogs.desmoinesregister.com/dmr/index.php/2012/06/11/reported-ufo-sighting-in-mitchellville-creates-buzz-online/
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Don Reed
August 17, 2011 at 8:25 pm
Today is Social Security check day for me so my $25 donation to Mitchellville is on its way.