02/24/2010 08:03 AM
By: News 14 Carolina Staff
MOUNT AIRY, N.C. – Vandals spray painted the face of the Andy Griffith statue, which serves as a symbol for the small town of Mount Airy where Griffith once called home.
The statue was a gift from the TV Land network in 2004.
Residents of Mount Airy say they’re shocked that someone would damage something that means so much to the community.
“This is not just important to fans of the Andy Griffith Show. It’s important to the local economy because as we have lost our textile mills, furniture and tobacco, we’re swinging in a direction of tourism being a much more important part of our local economy,” Tanya Jones said.
The Surry County Arts Council says TV Land is sending someone to take a look at the damage. In the meantime, surveillance cameras have been added near the statue, and there is a cash reward for anyone with information leading to an arrest.
You can call Mount Airy police at (336) 786-3535.
