Buffalo Missing (Oklahoma Main Street) -- Dec. 20, 2004 -- Collinsville, OK -- www.cvilleok.com

From: Linda_Stinnett@odoc.state.ok.us
Sent: Monday, December 20, 2004 1:52 PM
To: Main_Street_Towns --------------------------------- Subject: Main Street Buffalo News

We have some sad news to report. Our Main Street Buffalo has been stolen. When we first noticed he was missing from his usual position at the southeast corner of the Bricktown Ballpark, we thought that Bricktown or Downtown OKC, Inc., or even the Nature Convservancy had just moved him. However, upon further inquiry we find that no one seems to know what happened to him and we have concluded that he was stolen.

We have reported the crime to the Oklahoma City Police Department and to the above entities. We have even given a lead for a story to The Oklahoman. If we get some publicity, perhaps he will turn up. I am attaching a picture so that if anyone sees him, they could notify us.

The theft was not an easy task. He weighed nearly 260 ponds with the base, which was also taken. No other buffalo has been reported missing. For now, the tour is off.

On the lighter side, however, our staff attorney and Mr. Frantz have had a lot of fun (unfortunately at the buffalo's expense). There has been talk of putting his pictures on milk cartons. Ron (who else?) wanted to issue an "All Points Buffalo". When I first reported it to the staff attorney, he asked, "Are there any distinguishing characteristics?" They want to drag the canal and are talking about what they will do if they get a ransom note. (Mr. Hackler was worried the thieves might return him one hoof at a time. Following is an excerpt of the e-mail Ron sent to the artist:

We're totally buffaloed here at Main Street.
Just a mere two weeks ago, our favorite buffalo stoically stood on the southeast lawn of the Bricktown Ballpark.
We'd didn't see, er, hear it coming! Someone stole him, right with the base.
Checks with Downtown Oklahoma City, Inc., and the Nature Conservancy have resulted with no news. Just like a century ago, the buffalo vanished from the urban Great Plains. Someone artfully hunted him down and hauled him off.
Main Streets Home on the Range buffalo fate is not now known....just whose home...what range....could he have just been reduced to polymer burgers?
Our fearless leader Linda practices the lines of the song for which the buffalo was named as she's yet "to hear a discouraging word." She has hope. She's working with the Commerce attorney who is working with the police department. They've issued an "APB--All Points Buffalo."
The next steps are to place copies of digital photos on milk cartons. We're talking of dredging the canal. (Our fear is that one of the horns will pierce a water taxi, causing a capsize and claiming a massive loss of life.) We'll be double checking the new displays at Bass Pro.
We will not stop until we find those who are on the lam...ah, bison....with our artwork!
If you know his whereabouts, please let us know.

Please keep on the alert and let us know if you see him.

Linda Stinnett (Director Oklahoma Main Street Center)
Oklahoma Department of Commerce
900 North Stiles Avenue
P.O. Box 26980
Oklahoma City, OK 73126-0980
(405)815-5271
"I Believe in Oklahoma"