Flags stolen over Independence Day weekend

Lincoln American Legion Post 9 saw six of the flags that they put out during every holiday stolen over the Independence Day weekend. Dawn Charron said one of the flags was taken at 12:28 a.m. July 2. Another five were stolen after midnight on the morning of July 4. Charron said a group of people waving the flags and 'sword fighting' with them were picked up on a security camera at about 12:45 a.m. heading west toward the Wheel Inn.

The flags were taken from the corner of Stemple and Highway 200, The Power House gym, Hairway 200 Salon, Donuts Tires, the Church of Latter Day Saints and Last Best Place Gifts (formerly the Lost woodsman). In addition to stealing the flags, the culprits also broke several of the cast aluminum flag holders. Jim Phennicie said it looks like they jumped up to grab the flags and busted the mounts as they pulled them down.

Charron posted news of the theft on Facebook and soon had people offering to cover the cost of replacing the $81 flag sets. "I've got a lot of people donating, but it doesn't catch the little ... who did it."

By Tuesday morning, July 5 one of the flags had been returned to Donuts Tires, and another was possibly found on the Wheel Inn deck.

Charron said they have a lead on the culprits, thanks to security camera footage from businesses along main street, but at press time there wasn't any word on whether that had panned out. Charron asked that anyone with knowledge of the flag thefts contact the Lewis and Clark Sheriff's office or her.