Bear CUB - SHOT in head, DEAD, DUMPED on CAMPUS, and covered with Obama signs at Western Carolina University

@!#$! Sickening and disgusting.

THIS IS WHAT INFLAMATORY REMARKS MADE BY PALIN AND MCCAIN DO TO PEOPLE.

It's the bear cub today, WHO is next??

I'll repeat it again. If anything happens to Obama, I will and I believe the PUBLIC will hold McCain and Palin responsible.

Dayum them.




Dead bear covered with Obama signs left at WCU

Jon Ostendorff and Dale Neal • [email protected] • updated October 21, 2008 11:24 am


CULLOWHEE – An Arden businessman is offering a reward today for information leading to an arrest in the case of a dead bear covered in Barack Obama campaign posters that was dumped at the entrance to Western Carolina University.


Linn Beachem, owner of Beachem Carpet & Tile Care, said his $500 reward is not about the potential political message behind the incident. Instead, he is motivated by the act of someone killing and then dumping a bear on campus.

“I don’t want to make it about politics,” he said this morning. “It is just a despicable act.”

Beachem is hoping the $500 reward will spur others to offer even more reward money that might lead to an arrest in the case.

A university spokesman this morning said campus police are following leads. The U.S. Secret Service has also been notified as a matter of routine protocol, said university spokesman Bill Studenc.

In another new detail this morning, investigators found writing on duct tape attached to the poster requesting that no one steal it, making it appear the sign had been stolen before it was placed on the bear, Studenc said.

Maintenance workers found the 75-pound bear cub at the roundabout near the Catamount statute about 7:45 a.m., said Tom Johnson, chief of university police.

“It looked like it had been shot in the head as best we can tell. A couple of Obama campaign signs had been stapled together and stuck over its head,” Johnson said.

University police called in N.C. Wildlife Resources officials to remove the body and help in the investigation.

Bear season is under way in Western North Carolina. It is illegal to kill bear cubs weighing less than 50 pounds, according to state hunting regulations.

“But this is certainly unacceptable,” Johnson said. “Someone evidently was wanting to draw attention to the election. If we find out who they are, we'll make sure they'll get some attention themselves.”

The university issued a statement calling what happened deplorable and troubling.

“We cannot speculate on the motives of the people involved nor who those people might be, said Leila Tvedt, associate vice chancellor. “Campus police are cooperating with authorities to investigate this matter.”

Johnson said he knew of no other complaints related to the election.

Paul Cox, a spokesman for the Obama campaign in North Carolina, would not comment.

Anyone with information can call WCU police at 828-227-7301.



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