Vandalism at the Kimball Elementary

This bench was dedicated to Sandy Bennett, a KES teacher who died more than 20 years ago in a car accident on Hwy. 15. The buddy bench is further north of this; it was dedicated to former student Shawn Laudenbach. Submitted photo.

By Jean Doran Matua, Editor

Two benches behind Kimball Elementary School were vandalized some time Wednesday evening to Thursday morning. As of press time, there were no clues as to who committed the vandalism. It also is not clear yet what may be available on video of the area that is recorded by the school each day. The area is used daily by Cubs Club day care at the school.

One of the benches is dedicated to Sandy Bennett, a much beloved KES teacher who was killed in an accident north of Kimball on Highway 15. The middle slat on the bench was shattered and has since been removed.

The other bench is a buddy bench created and donated in memory of Shawn Laudenbach, a KES student who died of cancer in 2012. It was pretty well destroyed.

If anyone has any information on who may have committed this cowardly and senseless act, please contact the Stearns County Sheriff’s Office at (320) 259-3700.