Rotary Lights making plans to replace $13,000 in stolen electric cords

It may cost up to $13,000 to replace the electric cords stolen over the weekend from La Crosse’s Riverside Park, where Rotary Lights will be set up in the next month. Twenty-two pedestal cords were taken on Saturday and Sunday, and no arrests have been reported yet.

Rotary Lights president Pat Stephens says supply shortages could make it hard to replace the cords, ranging from 25 to 100 feet in length, in time for the Thanksgiving weekend opening.

But they don’t call him “Positive Pat” for nothing.

“We’ll find it someplace, even if we have to go get it ourselves someplace and make sure that it’s here,” Stephens said. “We will work on this, even if we have to do all-nighters and stuff to get it done and get it in place in time for open on November 26th.”

Stephens says this is the first vandalism or theft experienced by Rotary Lights during its history, dating back to 1995.

“There’s been plenty of opportunity over the years to do some damage to things in the park, but the community has always treated it kind of special, I think, and kept it away from any of the damage,” Stephens said. “This one hurt.”

If you want to donate to Rotary Lights, you can do so right from the website, just look for the donate link (click here).

Rotary Lights plans to bring in volunteer security from the Delta Sigma Phi fraternity at UW-La Crosse a little early this year.

The Greeks normally pull overnight shifts to watch Riverside Park from early November through the first week of January, while the light display is up.