Arson is an ugly word.

It means that someone has intentionally set a fire for destructive purposes.

That’s what happened Saturday night at the River Side Park.

Someone went to the park, and set a two story gazebo on fire and reduced it to ashes.

By the time fireman arrived, there wasn’t much left to save.

Each year, hundreds of Selma residents and even more visitors to the city gather at River Side Park for the Battle of Selma re-enactment.

Aside from that, people in Selma enjoy River Side and the adjoining Bloch Park everyday.

The gazebo, which is city property, was part of the community’s enjoyment.

And now someone has destroyed it.

We would hope that investigators will capture the culprit or culprits and that they will be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law.

Even more, we’d hope that no one else in the city decides to set fire to any property, much less community property.

While there are a lot of area residents who go out of their way to protect and preserve city property, for the enjoyment of all, there’s unfortunately a few too many that commit destructive acts.

The STJ denounces anyone who intentionally commits these types of acts.