BY JANE PRENDERGAST
The Cincinnati Enquirer
![[trees]](/editions/1998/08/26/tree_120x200.jpg)
Philip Finkelmeier of Covington looks along Riverside Drive, where vandals cut down three trees.
(Patrick Reddy photo)
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COVINGTON -- By water they came, armed with chain saws and apparently on a mission for a better view.
The vandals jumped out of their boat, ran up the Covington shoreline and felled three 30-foot elms. The motive, officials suspect, was to give somebody a clean look at the Sept. 6 Riverfest fireworks. The trees came down Friday in front of the big, fancy houses along Riverside Drive, near Kennedy Avenue. The loss of one in particular gives a clear shot of Cinergy Field.
Public works employee Charles Menke was on duty that day, driving along Riverside to make sure street sweepers were getting their job done. He saw people with saws running down to the water, said his boss, Geoff Warneford, director of public works. The cut-down trunks were left lying at the water's edge.
Police are investigating, said Lt. Danny Miles, department spokesman.
The trees are city property, but Mr. Warneford said he had no idea of their value. If the trees' value is more than $1,000, their destruction could amount to criminal damaging, a charge that can bring one to five years in prison.
Investigators might get some help from public works, said Lt. Miles. Somebody called there recently, asking workers to top the trees so they could have a better view of the riverfront. Mr. Warneford said he would provide the name to police.
![[trees]](/editions/1998/08/26/tree_330x550.jpg)