Some ‘Merry Christmas’ signs removed, then replaced; other signs unaccounted for
Published 12:12 pm Monday, December 14, 2015
More “It’s OK to say Merry Christmas” signs appeared over the weekend, courtesy of a mystery poster.
One resident, who asked not to be identified, said signs were placed on public property around Redmond High School on Saturday and that they had been removed. The resident also noticed that on Monday more signs recently posted on public property around other local schools were gone.
Kathryn Reith, Lake Washington School District communications director, said: “I understand that one staff member removed the signs in front of Redmond High temporarily, thinking they were actually on school property, but quickly replaced them once she did some research and determined they were on public property after all.”
Reith added that she’s heard allegations that other signs were removed, and she’s only been able to verify that they have disappeared from in front of Horace Mann Elementary. She’s confirmed with the Mann principal and office manager that they neither took down the signs nor directed that they come down.
“We have no idea what happened to those signs or any others that may have disappeared,” Reith said.
As previously reported, City of Redmond employees first noticed the green signs with white lettering in late November near churches on 166th Avenue Northeast. The Reporter and one resident spotted signs near the City Hall campus and the Redmond Regional Library on Northeast 85th Street/160th Avenue Northeast and the Redmond Fire Headquarters on 161st Avenue Northeast. One sign was reported to be posted near a mosque.
The signs — which have been posted for four consecutive years — feature a Bible verse on the front side, and on the back there’s a nativity scene, which is new to this year’s signs. Reporter readers have strongly voiced their opinions on the signs via the paper’s Facebook page and website.
The Reporter will follow up on this story when more details are available.
