(Update 10-a.m., 7/1) – A group of individuals have come together to offer a $2,500 reward for information leading to the arrest of the person or persons responsible for spray painting graffiti on a memorial park bench at the Schildberg Recreation Area, in Atlantic. The damage occurred sometime between Monday and Tuesday afternoon. The bench was named in honor of Pam Kuehl, who served several years on the Atlantic Community School District School Board, including a stint as School Board President, along many local civic groups and organizations. She won her battle against cancer, but passed away in Oct., 2018. after a battle with early onset Alzheimer’s.

The park bench after cleaning

Graffiti on the Pam Kuehl Memorial bench. (Images from the Atlantic Parks and Rec Dept. Facebook page)

Another bench shows graffiti near the Schildberg Campground.

The damage to the park bench was cleaned-up by the Parks and Rec Dept w/assistance from Henningsen Construction, Inc. and Whetstone Enterprises.

A $500 fund set up by Rob and Marlo Stamp as a reward for information leading to the arrest of those who damaged the Kuehl Memorial Bench, has quickly grown. Darrell Kirchhoff, Kipp J. Harris, Kelly and Tammy Wise all added to the reward Tuesday night, and by late this (Wednesday) morning, an additional $500 was offered from Moeller & Son Farms, Devin & Daryle Moeller, for a total of $2,500

If you have any information about who spray painted park benches at the Schildberg Rec Area in Atlantic, contact the Atlantic Police Department.