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BUT THIS WASN'T JUST DECORATIVE - AS JACK THURSTON TELLS US. ((SUSAN AYERS / First Grade Teacher: 9:50: It's devastating that it's gone.)) Susan Ayers is talking about what should be sitting on top of this gazebo - watching over Essex Elementary School. It was a turtle weathervane - shown in this photo from the craftsman who made it. Ayers discovered this week it was stolen. ((JACK THURSTON: 14:47: seeing the top, and seeing the turtle missing, what are you reflecting on? SUSAN AYERS: I feel a sense of emptiness.)) See, that gazebo is a memorial to Susan's fellow Essex teacher, and sister-in-law: Alicia Shanks. In August 2006, while she was getting for the start of the school year, Shanks was shot and killed inside her classroom during a larger spree of violence - by an angry man looking to harm his ex; another of the victim's coworkers. The principal now calls the theft - a loss, on top of a loss. ((PETER FARRELL / Essex Elementary School Principal: 11:30: our hope is that they don't know - that they're unaware of what it means to us. That to them, it's just a piece of metal, but to us, it's much more important.)) ((LAURIE WORKMAN MALENFANT / Sister of Murder Victim: 2:08: why would somebody go to a school and steal something from a school?)) Laurie Workman Malenfant is the younger sister of Alicia Shanks - who says the turtle was a meaningful symbol to Alicia because of her favorite classroom unit on Native American legends. ((LAURIE WORKMAN MALENFANT / Sister of Murder Victim: 2:26: I just wish that if somebody took it on a dare- I double dog dare you to bring it back.)) ((CAPT. RON HOAGUE / Essex Police Dept.: 18:55: it's not just an inanimate object.)) Essex Police have notified area scrap metal dealers - in case someone tries selling the weathervane for the value in its copper. ((CAPT. RON HOAGUE / Essex Police Dept.: 18:12: we're hoping that it's in one piece so it can be returned to the way it was.)) The school's asking everyone to keep their eyes out - and to let them kn

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A town in Vermont’s Chittenden County is asking its neighbors to keep an eye out for a distinctive weather vane that was stolen from an elementary school.“It’s devastating that it’s gone,” said first grade teacher Susan Ayers, talking about what should be sitting atop a gazebo that watches over Essex Elementary School.The weather vane was created by Vermont craftsman Jack Chase, whose photo of the creation has been shared by the school and Essex police to spread the word about the theft.That gazebo and weather vane are a memorial to Ayers’ fellow Essex teacher, and sister-in-law, Alicia Shanks.In August 2006, while she was getting for the start of the school year, Shanks was shot and killed inside her classroom during a larger spree of violence, by an angry man looking to harm his ex—who was another of the victim’s co-workers.Ayers discovered early this week that the weather vane was missing.“I feel a sense of emptiness,” she told NECN, adding that seeing the weather vane would give her comfort knowing a piece of Shanks was looking over the school and the students she adored.Peter Farrell, the principal of Essex Elementary, described the theft of the weather vane as a loss on top of a loss.“Our hope is that they don’t know,” Farrell said of the thief or thieves. “That they’re unaware of what it means to us. That to them, it’s just a piece of metal, but to us, it’s much more important.”Laurie Workman Malenfant, the younger sister of Shanks, said the turtle was a meaningful symbol to Shanks because of her favorite classroom unit on Native American legends.“Why would somebody go to a school and steal something from a school?” Workman Malenfant asked. “I just wish that if somebody took it on a dare—I double dog dare you to bring it back.”Essex Police said they have notified area scrap metal dealers, in case someone tries selling the weather vane for the value in its copper.“We’re hoping that it’s in one piece, so it can be returned to the way it was,” said Capt. Ron Hoague of the Essex Police Department.The school is now asking everyone to keep their eyes out for the distinctive turtle, asking that a community member who may see it to let the educators or police know where they can find this tribute to a beloved educator.“For Alicia, for the family, for the children at the school, bring it back,” Workman Malenfant implored. “Bring it back.”Anyone with information about the missing weather vane can contact Essex Police at 802-878-8331, or Champlain Valley Crime Stoppers at 802-846-6666.Farrell suggested the thief could have the weather vane dropped back at the school after hours, or notify the district about where it could be retrieved.