“It’s pretty rare. There’s only 12 of them in Canada. It weighs about 80 pounds,” described artistic director Jana MacKenzie.
The volunteers noted it missing at 12:30 a.m. Friday night. It was located in the middle of the ball diamonds which were being used as overflow parking lot for the fair.
“It must have been premeditated because the light and all the wires were gone. But it’s useless because the control box was still in the sound booth,” she continued. It requires a special plug into work, so it can’t be plugged in anywhere.
The strobe has been part of the fair for the past 20 years. It is usually flashing across the sky during evening performances. She estimated the light is worth $10,000.
“We’re hoping we’ll find it in the bushes when we clean up. We hope someone woke up with it and felt bad about taking it and left it,” she continued.
Police have been contacted, however organizers of Fort Macleod’s popular summer folk fest had offered a $500 no questions asked reward for it’s return.
— By Richard Amery, L.A. Beat Editor