FLOYD, Ark. (KTHV) - A weekend break-in in White County wipes out the food and supplies for a community's July 4th festivities.
It happened in the town of Floyd, about ten miles northwest of Beebe.
What happened here was a break-in at the Floyd Community Park concession stand. Volunteers say that it happened sometime between late Thursday night and Saturday morning. We are told everything was stolen down to the toilet paper, leaving the all-volunteer park board now scrambling for donations.
"This is where the air conditioner was, it cooled the concession stand," Park Volunteer Lou Thompson said.
Starting outside, Lou Thompson shows us the aftermath of the break-in at Floyd Community Park.
"Candy, hot dogs," Thompson said.
Inside the concession stand, 4th of July food is gone from the fridge and shelves.
"Paper products, pickles, jalapeño peppers," Thompson said.
Items were also taken from the cabinets.
"We had a bunch of Band-Aids, medical supplies, they took all that," Thompson said.
Items were also taken from the bathroom.
"We had a big box of toilet tissue and some paper towels and we had these shelves full and they took all of that," Thompson said.
It's a loss leaving Thompson in disbelief.
"Everybody that works here are volunteers and we all have to raise our own money, so it's just disheartening that anyone would so this," Thompson said.
Thompson says whoever did this came through a back entrance of the concession stand, cut the lock, first opening an exterior door and then busting down second one behind it.
"Apparently they put something through the door and lifted this up and got in here," Thompson said of a devise used to help protect the door.
"I mean, why would anybody, what do have to gain," Trey Benton said.
Park Board President Trey Benton says they'll need donations to keep the 36-year Floyd tradition complete, in time for the 4th.
"Us as board members, it's what we plan for the whole year around," Benton said.
It's a big day in town, threatened by a holiday scrooge.
Park leaders say the fireworks have yet to arrive, so none of that was stolen. They also have no idea who's behind the crime.
If folks want to help out with the food and supplies, call Monica Benton at (501) 454-9094.
We reached out to the White County Sheriff Department for comment for this story. A spokesman says the break-in is under investigation but no real leads to report at this point.