Prankster delays cable installation
Staff writer
Workers for Olathe-based Universal Communication found an unpleasant surprise Monday morning when they prepared to resume work laying AT&T fiber optic cable along Cedar St. in Marion.
Overnight someone had moved a backhoe just north of the intersection of Cedar and Kellison Sts. and left the bucket sitting in the northbound lane of Cedar St.
The prankster also took the backhoe key when they left.
The bucket had been resting in the ditch, operations manager Kyle Hrabe said.
Workers put traffic cones in front of the bucket, then went to PrairieLand Partners to get a new key for the machine.
Hrabe said his crew spent two days working on the project two weeks ago. They returned Friday and expected to finish the job by Tuesday.
New fiber optic cable is being placed from the Kansas Department of Transportation building to Lawrence St.
Marion police chief Tyler Mermis said the bucket was found to be moved between 1:30 and 2:30 a.m. Monday.