This sign, worth $540, recently disappeared from Wrightsville Beach.WRIGHTSVILLE BEACH, NC (WECT) - The mayor of one beach town is mad about thieves taking a pricey sign -- the irony of which is that the sign promoted responsibility.
Amid a late-night bar scene, Wrightsville Beach leaders recently started a program, entitled "Party the Wright Way," to encourage folks to drink responsibility.
They put up a sign that read "Don't drink and drive," and asked people to respect nearby neighbors.
Now, the sign is gone, leaving just the remaining post it was on.
The sign is valued at $540, and Mayor David Cignotti says someone had to use tools to take it off of its post where it was bolted. He says he's disappointed that someone would steal the sign, as it only been up for eight months.
He adds that the program has garnered support from the community and merchants, who have donated $2,000 to help spread the word.
"You hate to see that happen, because it's been a public and private effort to try to make things better downtown," said Cignotti. "Not in a police-heavy way, but in a way to educate bar patrons to have a good time, but respect the neighborhoods and not to booze and cruise."
For now, though, it looks like the town isn't going to pay to replace the sign. Board members voted not to spend the money to replace it.
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