A piece of a former student's Scout project, it showed up after publicity over its disappearance.
By MOLLY MOORHEAD
Published August 15, 2003
LAND O'LAKES - The case of the missing arbor took a good turn Wednesday.
The white latticework structure worth $200 was the shining centerpiece of the newly refurbished butterfly garden at Denham Oaks Elementary School. Hundreds of kids would have seen it standing amid flowers and greenery for the first time Monday, the first day of school.
Then it was gone. Blown away during the weekend, some thought. Stolen, others said.
It was a stinging blow to 14-year-old Michael Johnson, who spent the summer preening the garden of his old elementary school. The effort, which commanded the labor of about 25 boys, was Michael's Eagle Scout project.
But on the third morning of school, a few students noticed the missing arbor on the roof. Soon after, employees pulled it down and put it back in its rightful place in the garden.
Donna Johnson, Michael's mother, works as a nurse at Denham Oaks. She remembers walking through the building and hearing that the arbor had been found.
"It was like breaking news at the school," Johnson said. "It was incredible."
Mardee Kay Powers, assistant principal at Denham Oaks, said her hunch is the publicity about the arbor prompted thieves to return it.
"I think what happened was whoever took it realized it was catching up to them," Powers said.
Michael, who started school this week at Land O'Lakes High, hasn't had a chance to go back to Denham Oaks and see the arbor. But with all the work behind him, when he does go back it will be as an admirer.
"I was happy that they brought it back," Michael said Thursday evening. "It's good that the kids get to see it completed. It brings my whole project together."
