When news of Sen. Paul Wellstone's death reached Pat Hinze last Friday, she looked to the past for a fitting tribute.
In her front yard in south Moorhead, she put up a green and white Wellstone campaign sign -- one that hadn't seen daylight since his 1990 Senate run -- and draped black ribbons over it.
"It was put out just as a memorial because it was a 12-year-old sign," Hinze said.
The next day, it was gone.
At DFL headquarters in Moorhead, Hinze and other workers said they believe people are stealing Wellstone signs in Moorhead to sell on eBay or keep as souvenirs.
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In fact, they're so concerned about people exploiting Wellstone's death for money, they've removed all leftover Wellstone campaign materials from the public grab-table in the entryway.
The items were moved into a back room, where a large American flag hangs over a table covered in newspapers, flowers and a basketful of condolences as a memorial for Wellstone.
Reports of Wellstone's chartered plane crashing near Eveleth, Minn., hit TV stations shortly after 12:30 p.m. Oct. 25.
At 1:06 p.m., a campaign button advertising Wellstone's short-lived 2000 presidential run was listed on eBay.
By 11 a.m. Thursday, 50 Wellstone-related items were listed on eBay. They ranged from bumper stickers and an autographed copy of his book, "The Conscience of a Liberal," to drink coasters and even the program from Tuesday night's memorial service at the University of Minnesota.
The highest-bid item, at $100, was a poster from Sen. Eugene McCarthy's presidential run in 1968, signed by Wellstone and his replacement in the Minnesota Senate race, former vice president Walter Mondale.
Jay Haiby, director of the Clay County Republicans, said he had heard something about Wellstone signs being grabbed for souvenirs, but nothing about people profiting from them. Halloween might have something to do with the missing signs, he said.
The Moorhead Police Department also hasn't received any reports of stolen Wellstone signs, Lt. Bob Larson said.
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"It's very possible that they're getting stolen and people aren't reporting them because they don't feel that they're worth anything," he said.
Hinze didn't report her sign's disappearance.
"It's that kind of thing where you think, why report it to the police, they can't do anything about it anyway," she said.
Readers can reach Forum reporter Mike Nowatzki at (701) 241-5528
