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EVAN E. PARKER | THE
TIMES Valparaiso-area resident Hugh Smith, second from right, shakes hands with
Design Toscano owner Michael Stopka on Tuesday after Smith was presented with a
"Basho, The Sumo Wrestler" lawn ornament, left, and matching coffee table.
Joining him were, from left, Porter County police Sgt. Timothy Emmons, Smith's
daughter, Shannon Angelidis, and granddaughter Allison, 6, outside the Porter
County Sheriff's Department, where the items were presented.
Man, who
had statue stolen, gets surprise
Valpo-area resident given new Basho statue, Basho coffee table
BY KEN KOSKY
This story ran on nwitimes.com on Wednesday,
August 31, 2005 12:49 AM CDT
VALPARAISO | Tears
welled up in Hugh Smith's eyes when the owners of a company that sells lawn
ornaments not only replaced the sumo wrestler statue that had been stolen from
his yard, but also presented him with a matching coffee table. He's beautiful," Smith said, gazing down at the crouching sumo wrestler. "This
is fantastic."
The "Basho, The Sumo
Wrestler" statue stolen from Smith's rural Valparaiso yard two weeks ago had
sentimental value because the rock garden in which it rested was a project Smith
worked on with his wife of 44 years, Patricia, before her death eight months
ago.
Smith said he was angered by the theft and reported it to police, although he
never expected to get Basho back. The original statue has yet to be found, but
he said the next best thing is the new Basho he got Tuesday afternoon from
Michael and Marilyn Stopka, owners of Design Toscano, the Elk Grove, Ill.,
company that sells Basho.
Michael Stopka said he was going to bed two Fridays ago when Fox News in Chicago
ran a story about the Basho theft. He yelled for his wife to come watch the
television. Once they heard about how much Smith cherished Basho, the Stopkas
decided to drive to Valparaiso and give him the two Basho items.
"It's a heartwarming story," Michael Stopka said.
Both Basho items were wrapped with yellow bows and tags reading, "Welcome back.
Design Toscano."
Smith said he was surprised to also receive a Basho coffee table, but he said it
will fit in with the Oriental theme in his home.
Even before the gesture from the Design Toscano owners, Smith was a big fan of
the company's products. He purchased an angel statue from Design Toscano for the
area where he will bury his wife's ashes.
Smith's daughter, Shannon Angelidis, and granddaughter Allison, 6, joined him at
the Porter County Sheriff's Department for the presentation of the Basho items.
Smith left the ceremony with the Basho lawn ornament seat belted next to his
granddaughter.
He plans to chain the new Basho down in cement and get a security camera for his
property. |
