Officials in Key West have a mystery on their hands. They want to know who took the sign that welcomed visitors to “Paradise U.S.A.”
Residents say they last saw the “Welcome to Key West” sign on the ground after it was presumably knocked down by Hurricane Irma on Sept. 10. The sign at the island’s entrance off U.S. 1 features a painted sunset.
It was an $8,000 gift from the local Rotary Club, whose members just want the sign back, no questions asked.
Rotary member Nadene Grossman Orr tells the Miami Herald they’re “hopeful someone picked it up for safekeeping.”
For now, a hand-painted sign marks its spot at the busy intersection. “Welcome to Paradise,” it says.
Republished with permission of The Associated Press.