Daily Staff Writer

A 14-foot evergreen tree was cut down and stolen from a grove of six trees at the Green Fifth Addition, a group of condominiums adjacent to Veenker Golf Course. It apparently was cut to be used as a Christmas tree.

On the morning of Dec. 3, members of the neighborhood discovered the missing tree, a Colorado blue spruce.

Norman Rudi, a retired architect who lives in the Green Fifth Addition, said that it seems curious someone would “steal a specimen tree whose cost is in excess of $1,000” during the holiday season, a time for peace and brotherhood.

The tree, originally planted in 1981, was nine feet in diameter with a trunk six inches in diameter.

Members of the Green Fifth Addition are offering a $500 reward for information leading to the identification and arrest of the person or persons who stole the tree.

Anyone having information about the incident may call Rudi at 292-9033 and the Ames police at 239-5133.

The privacy of the caller, Rudi said, will be honored and, when confirmed, will receive the reward.

“We realize that several trees are stolen each year at Christmas. It is unfortunate that disrespect for personal property and beautiful living things is evident this time of the year,” he said.