Reward offered for recovery of stolen loader

A local business owner says he is offering a $5,000 reward for information leading to the recovery of a large machine stolen from a building site in Nevada.

On Friday, Jan. 18, Clancy Nowak owner of Nowak Construction discovered that his job site at the Nevada Welding Institute had been robbed. The theft is believed to have taken place between 1 a.m. and 5 a.m.

Among the items stolen was a 2002 Case 90XT Uniloader with forks, flat proof tires and steel tracks, a Bobcat post hole digger and a triple axle trailer with a barrel welded on the tongue to hold the auger.

The trailer, which was parked several yards away from the loader was believed to be stolen and attached to a pickup truck. The Uniloader was then loaded onto the trailer and both were taken.

Nowak said he would pay a $5,000 reward for information leading to the recovery of the Uniloader and $1,500 to anyone with information leading to the recovery of the trailer and post hole digger. "We're out of business without it," He said.

According to Amber Nowak, Clancy's wife, the flat proof tires alone were valued at around $8,000 for the set. Amber said some of the features setting this equipment apart from others is the loader's tires and tracks, and the barrel welded onto the tongue of the trailer. She also said that the evening maintenance worker reported seeing a black dually pickup truck in the area just before leaving.

A flyer being passed out by the Nowaks reads, "Owner had no insurance or payments remaining."

Anyone with information regarding this equipment or theft is asked to call Clancy at (417) 448-7974, he said all calls will be kept completely confidential.