05/31/2007: "$10,000.00 Reward For Conviction Of Vandal(s)"

The Island Guardian is pleased to announced that the final award amount for information that leads to the arrest and conviction of those responsible for the desecration of veteran’s graves on Orcas Island has now been set, and reached. The reward is $10.000.00.

John Erly , who has spearheading a drive for donations on Orcas Island -and has been instrumental in obtaining funds- has agreed with Sheriff Bill Cumming and The Island Guardian, that as of Thursday afternoon the donation drive has been successfully completed with the total of $10,000.00 being agreed to as the final reward amount. The money that has been collected will now be turned over to Sheriff Bill Cumming for safe keeping; and hopefully will aid the ongoing investigation.

The crime has deeply offended and angered not only the public in San Juan County, but in other states and countries as well, and the response to the call for donations has been quite overwhelming. Both Mr. Erly and The Island Guardian have received messages and calls from people in other areas expressing their outrage, and their wiliness to help find the perpetrators.

As a result of the successful drive, no additional donations are necessary, and Mr. Erly, Sheriff Cumming and all of us at The Island Guardian thank everyone who have called, written, or stopped us on the street to offer financial assistance. Now all we have to do is solve the crime.