Campaigns bring yard signs and yard signs bring, well, disappearances. Of course, in Natchez and Adams County determining just who is behind those disappearing yard signs can be a bit complicated.

While both the Natchez Police Department and the Adams County Sheriff’s Department say they’ve not received reports of stolen signs during this campaign season, some individuals — including a member of the Adams County Democratic Executive Committee — say they have lost signs.

And Artimese Evans, the city’s sign code enforcement officer, has been collecting signs which violate that code.

Beverly Merrill, a member of the Adams County Democratic Executive Committee, said she recently picked up 12 signs promoting Democrats from the police department. She said she noticed several Republican candidates’ signs there as well.

Natchez Police Chief Willie&160;Huff said officers store any signs they collect for violating the sign ordinance until candidates’ representatives can come pick up the signs

Gretchen Kuechler, assistant city planner, said the city ordinance allows property owners to place a sign no larger than eight square feet on their property or zoning lot. Two or three signs are permitted if the signs are of a smaller size, and if their total size equals less than 8 square feet, she said.

The city ordinance also prohibits candidates from placing signs on items such as trees, electrical poles, public utilities, gutters and fire escapes.

The signs must also be off rights-of-way and at least five feet from the edge of the curbed pavement and 100 feet from the nearest curbed intersection.

And all signs must be removed within seven days after the election.

Bobby Powell, with the Adams County Road Department, said road crews also remove the signs if they interfere with traffic. &uot;(There are) very few signs on the county roads this year that I know of,&uot; he said.

If the crews do remove signs they also contact the candidate or party, Powell said.