Stolen School Bus Recovered in Ravensdale a Past Target for Vandals

Someone really has it out for school bus, jokes school founder Roger Franklin.

"It's jinxed or someone's really in love with it."

What's less funny is that in the last two years, the bus has been the around the city of Enumclaw. And on Tuesday, it turned up missing from the school's current location behind the on Griffin Avenue.

Actually, it was more than just missing. Someone had climbed over a six-foot tall chain link fence, figured out how to get in the bus, started it and drove it right through the fence's locked gates, Franklin said.

Cedar River purchased the used school bus from Auburn School District with the intent of refurbishing it and using it to transport its own students. In the last year, all the seats in the bus have been repaired, Franklin said. It's also had "quite a lot of mechanical work and all the windows were replaced," he said. "We planned to use it next fall on a continuous basis. It's quite a good vehicle."

Enumclaw police Lt. Bob Huebler reported Wednesday afternoon that the bus was recovered in Ravensdale. When Patch spoke with Franklin Wednesday afternoon, an assessment had been done as to damages: one side window was broken out and there was front-end damage from where the bus made contact with the fence. The school also sustained significant costs for the damaged fence, Franklin said.

More importantly, "We got it back," said Franklin. "We're ready for one more shot at this."

If you have information about this theft, please contact Enumclaw police at 360-615-5707. All calls are confidential.