Posted at: 11/27/2009 11:42 AM | KSAX.com
By: Jessica Miles & Becky Nahm
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Vandals Destroy 500 Trees near Backus

Someone drove six-inch nails into hundreds of trees in Minnesota destroying a forest as well as a source of revenue for schools and communities.

Investigators think the vandals might have thought they were saving the trees. But if that was the case, their plan backfired.

The lot, which was planted and maintained by Cass County as a source of revenue, was scheduled to be thinned out this month. The lot is thinned every ten to 15 years. About 100 of the 600 trees were slated to be cut down and sold.

The money raised would benefit the community and school district.

But, before the thinning process could begin workers found pole barn nails pounded into more than 500 of the trees.

One tree bore a sign on which someone wrote "two in every tree" and drew a smiley face.

Now the entire forest must be cut down due to safety concerns.

Mike Diekmann of the Cass Co. Sheriff's Office said, "If a saw would hit one of these nails it would explode like a gun going off."

The trees will likely be taken down this winter and replanted this spring. But community members and loggers who rely on the resource call the loss of 600 trees a huge waste.

Last year nearly $300,000 was distributed to school districts from land like the forest and communities received $150,000.

There is a $5,000 reward for information in this case.

Anyone with information should call the Cass Co. Sheriff's Office at 1-800-450-2677.