Fencing stolen from unfinished Burns park after state orders barricades removed

After Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation officials made their final inspection of the first phase of the new Burns park last week, they instructed town officials to remove the barrels blocking access to the park, saying the park should be open to public use. At Thursday night’s work session of the Board of Commissioners, Burns Police Chief Paul McCallister reported somebody stole about $500 worth of fencing from the park site Wednesday night. McCallister said approximately 25 metal top posts for the ballfield fences were discovered missing Thursday afternoon. Parks Director Chris Ward said he would put the barricades back up on the park access road to try to prevent further thefts from the site.