Gnome away from home: prized possession missing
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Crime is rampant in the Lake County Courthouse, according to Lester Lundeen, who works in the tax department.
Lundeen’s gnome, Pittsley, wearing a painted-on Pittsburgh Steelers uniform, is missing from Lundeen’s second-floor office.
The first inkling Lundeen had of the gnome-napping was on Oct. 3 when he received a picture of a grinning gnome at the scenic overlook on Polson hill. When he got the first picture, Lundeen said he thought, “Wow, that gnome looks just like mine.” Then he looked for Pittsley, and the gnome was not in his place on the floor of Lundeen’s office.
He’s since received two other pictures of Pittsley — one of the gnome in a shopping cart at Walmart and one at the transfer station.
“I hope he doesn’t get recycled,” Lundeen said.
Late last week Lundeen received the latest photo showing Pittsley in Bigfork at Sliter’s Park and sitting on the rail of the bridge.
Lundeen thinks the gnome-napping is an inside job, since two of the envelopes were not postmarked.
“Could be a football fan who gnome-napped Pittsley,” Lundeen noted, since Lake County Treasurer and Packers fan Patty Duford-Kugler swiped Pittsley last year and returned him to Lundeen wearing a tiny cheese head.
Lundeen said coworkers have given their theories about Pittsley. Kelly the janitor thinks Pittsley left because he was neglected, but Lynne Fricker, District Court Clerk, thinks he is going to Kicking Horse Job Corps for retraining. Head of Lake County Juvenile Detention Officer Barbara Monaco told Lundeen she hopes Pittsley makes it to the Griz game on Saturday.
Regardless of why Pittsley was purloined, Lundeen said he wishes the “nasty, not-so-nifty, gnome-napping nerds” would bring Pittsley home, 'cause he misses the little guy.
It’s a communist plot, Lundeen added, because it’s un-American to deprive someone of his football team.
“I just hope he doesn’t fall into the hands of an Oakland Raiders fan; that would be the worst,” Lundeen noted.
Subpoenas have been served on suspects, Lundeen said, and Detective Dan Yonkin is on the case.
If you have information about Pittsley’s whereabouts, please call Lundeen at the Lake County Courthouse.
