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By Diana Bowley, Of the NEWS Staff - GREENVILLE - It appears that Smokey Bear has been kidnapped, and police aren't sure if there will be a ransom for his return.For years, Smokey stood sentry in front of the Maine Forest Service headquarters in Greenville. But somebody absconded with the 5-foot-tall wooden bear over the past few days. "I assume he was taken for ransom; otherwise the poor bear would have turned up somewhere," Greenville police Officer Charlie Runnels said Friday. Runnels said forestry officials reported the sign missing on Friday morning. He said the bear, who was holding a painted shovel, had been mounted to a large post next to a fire danger sign. Post and all have disappeared. The officer was puzzled by the theft. "You can't exactly put him on your lawn - it's like the 'Mona Lisa,'" he said. It is not the first time Smokey has disappeared, however. Jim Downie, Maine Forest Service spokesman, said his department "loses them all the time." Recently, one such sign was found on a high school roof about 60 miles from its location, he said. Downy said the signs cost about $275 to replace. Runnels hopes that someone's conscience will be enough to return the original Smokey sign. If not, he hopes that anyone with information will call the Police Department at 695-3835. "They can call that number to provide information or for ransom demands," he said. |