An act of vandalism has left a local business wondering why and offering up a $500 reward for information that leads to an arrest. The piano located on the covered deck of the Texas Gate/Rockyiew Hotel (the side that faces Main Street) has been smashed beyond repair, leaving proprietor Mark Horton with little choice but to have the 40-plus year-old piano hauled to landfill. "It just makes me so mad that anybody would take the time to do this ... for what?" said Horton, adding that he had hopes that regulars and tourists alike would hop on deck and take a turn at the keys for the next 50 years to come. "There were only eight out of 88 keys left ... they literally took the time to break it entirely," said Horton, who had to fork out around $500 to have a junk disposal company come haul the heavy, battered relic away. Horton said he is also open to filling the space with another piano – should anyone in the community have one they are looking to re-home. While purchasing a new clavichord is not in the budget – given the expense just incurred – Horton is open to community input and ideas and can arrange to pick up a replacement in need of a new space. "They're messing with the history of our town ... it's brought a lot of enjoyment to a lot of people," he said, reflecting on a time last summer when his crack-of-dawn office work was met with the serenade of a man from Morley who was playing classical music "like a concert pianist" at 5:45 a.m. Horton said anyone with information about the senseless act of vandalism, which took place sometime between late-night hours last Thursday, Oct. 25-early and morning hours the next day, is encouraged to call him at 403-862-2999 or to stop by the establishment.
