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MOAB — The Bureau of Land Management said two signs it replaced over the weekend marking the beginning of what is now known as the Grandstaff trailhead along the Colorado River were stolen sometime Wednesday night.
"The office is sad and disappointed to think someone felt they had to steal them," said BLM spokeswoman Lisa Bryant. "We'd ask they be returned."
As part of an update to its signage in the highly popular recreation area, the BLM replaced the controversial "Negro Bill" trailhead signs over the weekend, instead putting in markers that bear part of William Grandstaff's name. Grandstaff was a black cowboy who lived and worked in the area during the 1870s.
Removing the signage and renaming the canyon has been a point of controversy for decades.
Many locals wanted the name to remain because of its historical tradition, while many others found the language an outdated and offensive term not reflective of today's values.
The canyon remains named Negro Bill, but supporters of the name change are also pushing the U.S. Board of Geographic Names to remove the race-denoting language that critics find racially inflammatory.
Bryant said theft of the signs is a felony because they are valued at $1,000 or more.
