Arsonist Setting Hay Bale Fires in Wagoner County

Thursday, January 6th 2000, 12:00 am

By: News On 6

If some Wagoner County Holsteins could talk, they'd tell a tale of arson. Awakened by blazing bales of hay, they would probably want to know why someone wanted to burn up their breakfast.

Another group of cowsâ€™ lunch went up in flames in Coweta. "I think there's somebody with a bad habit in this county," said Wagoner County Cattlemenâ€™s Association president Wade Rousselot. He says that for the past few weeks, someone has been setting fire to hundreds of bales of hay worth thousands of dollars in both Wagoner and Muskogee counties. "It makes you sick to your stomach," Rousselot said. "It's something that you've worked, invested in and it's gone. You either have to sell your cows or find some hay to replace it. This is not the time of year to find hay because most everyone needs their hay," he explained. "It's not just a prank anymore."

The arsonist has visited Duane Guyne's farm twice now. Is Guyne mad? "Absolutely," he answered. "It's a waste of effort and a lot of money." Backed by a $1,500 reward from the cattlemen's association, Guyne is now posting fliers. "Iâ€™ve been posting signs all over the Haskell and Coweta area, all the way down to Muskogee. Money does talk, and I think people will come forward and tell on each other," he explained.

The hay fires are forcing area cattlemen to work even longer hours, sitting in their fields and by roads at night hoping to catch the arsonist. "We're going to find you," Guyne said. "We're going to come get you with law enforcement by our side."

Until there's a break in the case, or when Wagoner County cows can give witness statements, ranchers and lawmen will be on the lookout for whoever is setting these fires.

If you know whoâ€™s responsible, call the Wagoner County Cattlemen's Association at 687- 6934.