Community center trying to
recover after break-in, vandalism



Scattered clothes, papers, food and other items cover the floor in Colorado Hall at UM-related Montopolis Friendship Community Center, Austin. Vandals broke into the center in late May. They bashed in an outside metal door, dumped files from cabinets, emptied a refrigerator of food, trashed bingo gifts and rifled through desk drawers. Intruders pried open the exterior door to the school next door, went through student records, scattered them on the floor, took a computer and printer, and damaged an air conditioner by trying to remove it from the wall. The incident was the second at the center in two weeks. Vandals previously destroyed the main air conditioner condenser and took all its copper tubing. Cost of replacing the compressor, computer and air conditioner for Colorado Hall—along with roof repairs from earlier storms—is estimated to be $6,700. David Sidney of First UMC, Cedar Park, is heading a task force to determine how the center can be repaired. If you are willing to help, call Sidney at (512) 259-8623, or send checks to P.O. Box 4691, Austin 78765.