A historic school bell has been returned after being missing for nearly nine months after it was taken from its pedestal in front of the Conehatta Community Club.
The stolen artifact made its return back to the community club grounds on Monday, Jan. 5, just as mysteriously as it was taken back in May: in the wee hours of the night.
“I got a call this morning from a resident that said she just saw the bell at the community center,” said Beat 3 Supervisor Terry Wayne Vance. “I went to take a look at it and I’m pretty certain that it’s the same bell. It had to have been dropped off overnight, because it wasn’t there over the weekend. They left it laying on the concrete in front of the community club, so this week I’m going to get it hoisted back up on the pedestal in its rightful place.”
Vance said he was just as perplexed to the bell’s return as he was when it was taken. But he and the Conehatta community are happy to have it back.
“I don’t know if it’s a case of someone being forced to return it by relatives who may have found it, or if it’s just a case of someone deciding to do the right thing, but I’m glad to see it returned.”
