City officials close Beatrice park restroom, following fireworks damage

BEATRICE – The City of Beatrice has closed a public park restroom, after it was damaged by vandals.
A police sergeant responding to the park Friday morning found that a toilet had been blown up by fireworks, shattered into several pieces. A spent six-inch firework casing was found nearby.
The fixture was still attached to a wall, but the rest of the toilet was destroyed.
Police spoke to a campground host, who said one of the campers at the park saw something around 11:25 p.m., July 4th. A witness who had arrived at the campground shortly after 11 p.m. heard a loud boom coming from the shower house at about 11:25 p.m. and observed smoke coming from the shower rooms.
As the witness rounded the west side of the building he observed several people running to the west….then saw a smaller car’s headlights as it was leaving the park. No suspects have been found.
An initial estimate of the damage totaled $700. Officials say the men’s public restroom facility at Riverside Park will be closed for a week to ten days, to allow time to make repairs.