BENTONVILLE — The disappearance of Centerton's Christmas tree had some residents crying "grinch" Wednesday.
The city's 10-foot tall artificial tree sat on top of a large box covered in wrapping paper in Beckendale Plaza, 439 W. Centerton Blvd., before it was taken down earlier this week.
Mayor Bobbie Griffith said recent high wind caused the tree's base to bend, and it fell down.
Dean Sheppard said he noticed the tree was missing during his Monday morning commute.
"We got a box instead of a tree," Sheppard said. "It's kind of like Merry Christmas, but where is the tree?"
Karen Ciampoli said she doesn't understand why the city doesn't fix the tree so it can stand until after Christmas Day.
"The community wants these things. They want them for their kids," Ciampoli said. "Why would you take away something like the Christmas tree before Christmas?"
The tree can not be fixed because welding will cause its plastic needles to melt, and it is not feasible for the city to purchase another $700 tree, Griffith said.
City officials will, however, decorate the 30-foot tall, live Norway Spruce tree next to City Hall on Main Street for residents to enjoy throughout the holiday season, Griffith said.
Lights will go on the tree this morning, Griffith said.
John Stubbs said he is happy with the city's new Christmas tree.
"I'm very glad to have it down here and I think it'll be beautiful," Stubbs said.
Others were not so pleased with the new tree.
Ciampoli and Sheppard said the city should focus on fixing the tree it has rather than putting lights on another one.
"They're going to put all those man hours into a new tree when it would have taken half an hour to fix the tree," Sheppard said. "It's like they had a splinter in their foot so they cut their leg off."
Ciampoli said the location of the new tree on Main Street is bad because most of the city's traffic is on Centerton Boulevard.
"The mayor is doing this because she is pissed because she lost the election," Ciampoli said.
Not true, Griffith said.
"The fact is the Christmas tree is broken and cannot be fixed," Griffith said, adding the new tree will have something the old one didn't -- Christmas lights.