PINE GROVE - It's been a long haul for the Pine Grove Concerned Citizens group, but it has reached one of its goals.
It will feature a team of six candidates on the Pine Grove borough primary election ballot, with a candidate for mayor and five for council seats.
As the candidates pursue election, however, police are investigating the theft of the group's political signs that were placed around the borough.
When the group first met in late fall 2011, its members discussed complaints they had been receiving from residents about some of the borough's elected officials. They agreed the best way to make changes was to encourage residents interested in bettering their community to run for office in the hopes of gaining a majority.
While initial meetings were well attended, some with as many as 40 residents present, attendance eventually dwindled and the few remaining members were near ready to throw in the towel. In June 2012, three Concerned Citizens members requested appointments to two council seats vacated that May, and Tom Fickinger and Scott Zimmerman were successfully appointed.
While the group had hoped to get a slate of Democratic candidates, it has six Republican candidates on board.
In addition to Fickinger and Zimmerman, Anthony "Tony" Gurski Jr. and Robert Wolfe plan to run for four, four-year council positions available. Gurski now serves on the council due to a resignation. Michael Allison is a two-year seat candidate, while Willard Shiffer is running for a four-year term as mayor.
On March 28, three 4-by-4-foot signs with the candidates' names listed were erected on private property at different locations in the borough. After 3 a.m. and before 7 a.m. March 29, two of the signs were stolen.
One sign was located at Oak Grove Road and North Tulpehocken Street. The other was at American Legion Boulevard and Pine Hill Drive. A third lighted sign remains standing on property owned by Thompson Waterproofing, South Tulpehocken Street. A replacement sign has been placed at the American Legion Boulevard location and is now also lighted.
A police report lists a $500 reward for information leading to an arrest, and a citizens group representative said that members are receiving calls from residents offering their support. The donors of the reward wish to remain anonymous.
