Vandals strike at fairgrounds

IRONWOOD — Vandalism damage at the Gogebic County Fairgrounds is under investigation by the Ironwood Public Safety Department.

The IPSD received a 3:10 a.m. Wednesday complaint about a building break-in at the fairgrounds from Bill McDonald, who was dropping off some carnival equipment.

McDonald noticed the main office door swinging open and discovered a side window on the building had been smashed. Inside the large main office building, fire extinguishers had been sprayed and pop cans and debris were scattered on the floor.

The IPSD report said many locked buildings had been entered, including the old office and a horse barn. The Aurora Club trailer, motocross trailer and the open grandstand area also received some damage, according to the report.

There was evidence of possible arson in one of the buildings, according to the IPSD’s initial report.

Evidence technicians from the IPSD and Gogebic County Sheriff’s Department were called to the scene to begin an investigation.

On Wednesday around 11 a.m., fairgrounds superintendent Karl Nelson said he had not yet checked out all of the buildings. He said he had last checked out the fairgrounds on Friday.

“It was probably kids, but I don’t know for sure,” Nelson said.

Nelson said a few of the buildings had been entered last spring.

He said there were no computer in the main office building, but there were some copy machines there. “The main office room was trashed,” he said.

Nelson said a priority would be to get the damaged fire extinguishers repaired.

There was no immediate estimate of damages.

This year’s Gogebic County Fair ran from Aug. 8-11.