Elgin looking for missing throne

A Throne of Summer has been hijacked, and a knighthood is being offered in exchange for its safe return.

Elginites and organizations in town decorated 55 oversized Adirondack chairs in the Thrones of Summer outdoor art program organized by Elgin Community Network along with a host of Elgin businesses and organizations.

Elgin's Topnotch Tattoos decorated the missing chair, which has been displayed on South Grove Avenue near the Grand Victoria Casino all month, event organizer Sigi Psimenos said.

Psimenos said a landscaper at the casino spied two people carrying the chair across the National Street bridge on June 16.

“I'm thinking someone wanted this particular chair very badly for a Father's Day gift,” Psimenos said. The tattoo parlor, at 216 E. Chicago St., decorated nine chairs for the contest. They were scheduled to remain on display throughout the city for residents to admire until July 11, before all 55 chairs were to be relocated to the Gail Borden Public Library for the rest of the month.

Psimenos is offering a reward for the return of the throne and said there also will be a knighting ceremony at 1 p.m. July 31 at the Art & Soul on the Fox/Passeggiata when the remaining chairs are set to be auctioned off.

“Whoever finds it will be knighted,” Psimenos said.

Anyone with information is encouraged to call the Elgin Police Department at (847) 289-2700 and email Psimenos at sigiusa@yahoo.com.

For details about the Thrones of Summer programming, find Adirondacks — Thrones of Summer 2011 on Facebook.