brotherbill54

The following news article appeared on the front page of todays local newspaper, The Times-Reporter in New Philadelphia, Ohio. There was also an accompanying photograph showing the vehicle sunk in mud up to its axle behind the centerfield fence at the youth baseball field. There is no access road around this field; the cachers decided that it was to far to walk and tried to drive around on the grass instead. Cachers please show respect for other peoples property and privacy. This kind of bad press will only make it harder for our sport to be accepted in this community. Self-control and common sense people. Shortcut may cost geocachers Coshocton man cited after driving car onto football practice field. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- By Joe Mizer The Times-Reporter Posted Dec 13, 2009 @ 11:52 PM -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- .An expedition into geocaching Sunday ended for three Coshocton, Ohio men with Nathan C. Vestal, 24, of 1701 Orchard St. being charged by New Philadelphia, Ohio police with criminal trespassing. Officer Ty Norris said Vestal, with two other Coshocton residents as passengers, drove his Chevrolet Corsica onto a football practice field behind the Waterworks Baseball Fields off Mill Ave. SW. A passerby reported seeing the vehicle stuck in the mud behind the ballfields at 3:18 p.m. Norris said Sunday night the vehicle will remain there until a towing company and New Philadelphia parks and recreation officials figure out a way to remove it without causing further damage. “About 20 feet of the practice field was torn up,” Norris said. He noted that Vestal drove onto the field “because they thought they could make it through.” Geocaching, according to its Internet Web site, is a high-tech treasure-hunting game played throughout the world by adventure seekers equipped with GPS devices. The basic idea is to locate hidden containers, called geocaches, outdoors and then share their experiences online. “Geocaching is enjoyed by people from all age groups, with a strong sense of community and support for the environment,” the Web site says. Norris said the men found the hidden geocache nearby while he was writing Vestal his citation, and while they were waiting for a tow truck. Once the tow truck driver arrived, they decided not to attempt to pull out the car. “They may have to wait until the ground freezes,” Norris said. He added that in addition to the citation, Vestal will be charged a towing fee and “whatever it costs the city to fix what was damaged.” Norris took the three men to a Bluebell Dr. NW business to await a ride back to Coshocton. He urges anyone doing geocaching to “just use common sense, that’s the primary thing.”