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Someone took the trailer, used to haul percussion equipment, from Smith's Auto Body, 5939 U.S. 19, New Port Richey.
By MATTHEW WAITE, Times Staff Writer
© St. Petersburg Times, published August 27, 2002
NEW PORT RICHEY -- William Rutherford has a warning for whoever took the trailer Gulf High School's band uses to ferry instruments to football games.
"I've got 90 band kids who aren't happy right now," he said.
Late Friday or early Saturday, someone took the trailer from Smith's Auto Body, 5939 U.S. 19, New Port Richey. It was there to have the Gulf High logo painted on it so it would be ready for the school's first high school game next week in Land O'Lakes.
According to a Pasco County Sheriff's Office report, there were tire tracks right up to where the trailer was waiting to be painted.
Rutherford said the trailer was the result of two years of fundraising by band students, started in 1999 when the senior class in 1999 donated $800 to get the effort started.
All told, the students raised $5,000 selling candy bars, car washes and other trinkets to buy the trailer.
And now it's gone.
"It's pretty damaging in what we're trying to accomplish," Rutherford said.
The trailer was used to haul percussion equipment to games. High school football season starts next week, and Gulf's first game is an away game, just when the trailer would be needed the most.
Rutherford said that in the meantime they'll have to rent a trailer, which will have to come out of band funds.
"We don't have the money to just go out and get one," Rutherford said.
Rutherford said he told his students Monday what happened. He also asked them to keep their eyes out for the trailers and to recruit others to do the same.
The trailer is a white, 22-foot long Hi-Way Star trailer. It had no markings on it and had a Florida "Support Education" license tag with "719 AFA" on it. Rutherford asked that anyone with information call the Sheriff's Office toll-free at 1-800-854-2862.
"We might get lucky, and it might turn up somewhere," he said.
-- Matthew Waite can be reached in west Pasco at 869-6247 or toll free at 1-800- 333-7505, ext. 6247. His e-mail address is waite@sptimes.com.