“Welcome to Mitchellville” Sign is Missing
Mon, Aug 15, 2011 | by TJ Juskiewicz
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.
Today is Social Security check day for me so my $25 donation to Mitchellville is on its way.
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!!
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.
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
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…
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
thanks for update.
TJ how’s bout a final count on how much Ragbrai sent the city?
It would just be nice to know
RAGBRAI riders raised a total of $340. Thank you, I know Mitcheville appreciates the generosity.
TJ
Was the sign ever recovered?
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…