By ERIC MEYER

Staff writer

The stakes aren’t the same as in Ukraine or Gaza, but make no mistake: A war is raging in Marion County.

The battleground is just to the north of the intersection of US-50 and Sunflower Rd., the main path to Marion from cities to the south.

Military infrastructure, offices, homes, schools, and hospitals aren’t the turf at stake.

Warfare at the intersection is over a blue-and-white sign proclaiming Marion County “Eyesore of the Flint Hills.”

Wind farm opponent Tom Britain of rural Florence installed the sign in January — with permission, he says, of landowner Steven J. Butts of Mulvane.

Four times since then, it’s been stolen or defaced — once in January, again in May, a third time in early August, and most recently between Aug. 30 and Sept. 3.

The “eyesore” sign is positioned near a billboard the City of Marion pays to illuminate. In many regards, particularly at night, it stands out more than Marion’s sign, which has smaller letters.

Despite repeated attacks on the sign, Britain has no intention of backing down.

He already has purchased a spare from Baker Brothers in Hillsboro and vows the sign will continue to be posted even after he’s gone.

“I’ll set up a trust to have someone put that sign up in perpetuity,” he said Sunday, after the newspaper received a copy of the fourth vandalism report about the sign this year.

When Britain originally installed the sign in January, “it lasted about a week or two,” he said. “They completely ripped it off, and it was gone.”

He replaced it, but attackers soon returned.

“The next one they put googly eyes on and painted over it,” Britain recalled. “Then they pulled it off and tried to paint over it again.”

He responded by having a stencil made to reduce replacement costs and having an extra made up just in case.

Total damage from the four incidents has been estimated at nearly $1,000.

Throughout the war, Britain has gathered evidence he thinks perpetrators may have left at the scene.

Included, he said, are receipts for a spicy chicken sandwich ordered in Valley Center, a McDonald’s receipt, and a receipt for items purchased at Walmart in Newton.

Each incident of vandalism has been reported to sheriff’s deputies, and Britain said he was satisfied deputies took the case seriously.

He’s less certain about their boss, Sheriff Jeff Soyez, who owns land near Orsted’s Sunflower Wind farm.

“Jeff Soyez is one who took a buyout from them,” Britain said, “so he isn’t going to do anything.”

It’s not just wind farm signs that have been targeted.

In the past, Britain has been a candidate for county commissioner. Signs about his candidacy also were ripped down before the “eyesore” sign was installed.

“A lot of people love it,” Britain said about his sign.

He’s also fighting wind farms in court and at government meetings.

“This whole thing’s been crooked,” he said. “It’s not over yet.”

Although undeterred in his quest to block wind farm expansion, Britain’s faith in First Amendment guarantees of freedom to express even unpopular views is shaken.

He intentionally arrives late at public meetings so he won’t have to recite the Pledge of Allegiance.

“I don’t want to do the flag salute,” he said. “That’s why I go in late. ‘With liberty and justice for all.’ I can’t say that anymore.”