Vandals damage Palmer fairgrounds

PALMER (AP) -- Police are searching for vandals who broke into the state fairgrounds near Palmer last week and caused tens of thousands of dollars in damage.

The vandals smashed windows and broke doors on nearly a dozen buildings, said Sandy Gaither, a state fair employee who helps oversee operations.

They also banged up two ATM machines, and broke windows and doors on a dozen privately-owned motor homes and two boats that were parked in the farm exhibits building, she said. The vehicles are being stored in the building for the winter. The damage could total up to $60,000, Palmer Police Chief Russ Boatright said.

The fairgrounds were broken into sometime during the night of Nov. 24 and or in the early morning hours of Nov. 25, Gaither said. A groundskeeper discovered the damage on Nov. 25.

No arrests have been made in the case, Boatright said.