The National Park Service is looking for the vandals who defaced a cliff in the Ozarks National Scenic Riverways along the Jacks Fork River near Eminence.
“We do have some leads in the case and we expect to brief the U.S. Attorney’s office within 90 days,” said Dennis Weiland, chief ranger at the park.
The graffiti is near the top of a 45- to 50-foot cliff known as Chalk Bluff and was discovered over the weekend. It’s clearly visible from the Jacks Fork during a time of year when weekend visitors can exceed 1,000 for canoe trips along the river.
“We’re disappointed that our visitors have to see that type of damage done during our prime time of year to visit,” Weiland said.
The violators could be facing a misdemeanor charge with a penalty of up to a year in prison or a $5,000 fine, he said.
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Ozark National Scenic Riverways, designated in 1964 as the first national park to protect a river system, doesn’t get much graffiti. But Weiland said the park service should be able to remove it, hopefully by Memorial Day. The agency will have to find people able to rappel down the cliff to get to the graffiti.
“This is complicated because we have to have climbing-certified people to go in and remove it,” Weiland said.
Graffiti on Chalk Bluff along the Jacks Fork River in the Ozark National Scenic Riverways park was found during the weekend of April 25, 2015. The National Park Service posted the photo to its Facebook page and is investigating.
Jacob Barker
Reporter
