Port Townsend police investigating Chetzemoka Park plant “hacking”

PORT TOWNSEND — Police are looking for vigilante plant-pruners who took shears to the arbor path in Chetzemoka Park over the weekend.

They hacked hanging roses and other plants that city crews have spent years cultivating.

In what appeared to be a crude attempt at beautifying the park, city parks crews discovered Monday that someone had pruned extensively from trellises containing wisteria and other plants near the park entrance, city officials said.

The plant-pruners left two Dumpsters’ worth of debris neatly stacked at the other end of the park.

“Apparently, somebody thought they were helping,” Parks Superintendent Steve Corra said Tuesday. “They did a real bad job. They pretty much left nothing unhacked.”

The rest of this story appears in today’s Peninsula Daily News Jefferson County edition. Click on “Subscribe” to get the PDN delivered to your home or office.

More in News

Port Angeles brothers Finley Bornsworth, 3, left, and Oliver Bornsworth, 6, take a snowy sled ride on the campus of Port Angeles High School on Tuesday. Overnight snowfall left a mantle of white over much of the North Olympic Peninsula with an additional chance of snow showers forecast through the weekend. (Keith Thorpe/Peninsula Daily News)
Snow day

Port Angeles brothers Finley Bornsworth, 3, left, and Oliver Bornsworth, 6, take… Continue reading

Funding freeze may affect Port Angeles grants

Judge extends block of Trump action

City of Port Angeles updates mobile and itinerant vendor code

Effective March 1, process expands definitions, establishes criteria

Port Angeles school board approves criteria for new leader

Directors looking for visionary innovator with extensive experience

Madison Canterbury, 7, of Shelton looks at a Valentine’s gift she created with the assistance of volunteers Chandra McGuff, left, and Nicole Lemon at a craft table set up outside the Silver Lining Cafe at The Wharf on Saturday on the Port Angeles waterfront. Youngsters were given the opportunity to create gifts and Valentine’s cookies during the event. (Keith Thorpe/Peninsula Daily News)
Valentine’s gift

Madison Canterbury, 7, of Shelton looks at a Valentine’s gift she created… Continue reading

Lavender Cowder, 7, in her front yard on A street in west Port Angeles, tries to taste a snowflake during a brief snow shower Sunday. (Dave Logan/for Peninsula Daily News)
A taste of winter

Lavender Cowder, age 7, in her front yard on A street in… Continue reading

The Clallam Bay Early Learning Center opened Monday to help provide service to an area with an identified childcare desert. At first, the center will accept nine children under 6 years old, with the goal of expanding to a total of 30 children. (Clallam Economic Development Council)
Daycare opens in Clallam Bay to address ‘childcare desert’

Nine slots available to start, with plans to expand to 30 children

Port of Port Angeles matching grants to aid infrastructure projects

Recompete funds will be used to purchase barges

Humane society board votes on transparency

Meeting minutes, financial statements won’t be shared with public

Rhody royalty to be crowned on Saturday

Queen, princess to be honored at Chimacum High School

Recipients of Port Angeles Community Awards gather after Saturday night’s awards gala at Field Arts & Events Hall in Port Angeles. Winners were, from left, counselor Jason Gooding of the Port Angeles School District, educator of the year; Rose Thompson, executive director of the Dungeness Crab Festival and owner of Fogtown Coffee Bar, young leader of the year; Danny Steiger, CEO of Lumber Traders Inc., citizen of the year; Alicia Campion, administrator of Ridgeline Homecare Cooperative, emerging business of the year; Don Droz, general manager of Swain’s General Store, business of the year; and Elisia Anderson, executive director of First Step Family Support Center, organization of the year. (Keith Thorpe/Peninsula Daily News)
Citizen, business of year honored at awards gala

Three finalists named in six categories for efforts in 2024

Winter virus season continues

Flu affecting students; RSV, COVID-19 mild