The Judge Bathum Sign-Smasher of 276th

A road sign north of Mt. Peak on 276th, near 456th, saying, "This road is in the care of Judge Bathum & family", or words to that effect, has had a rocky history over the past few years: During that time, every couple of weeks to couple of months, the sign has been ploughed down and snapped off by a truck or car.

Sometimes, you could see skid marks where the vehicle lurched off the road, drove through the sign, and swerved back onto the road. I would see the sign lying on the shoulder, with nothing but a nub of its 4x4 post still in the ground. The sign would disappear for a week or two, then reappear, repaired, in its usual place. Not long after, the sign would be ploughed down again, the sometimes splintered post revealing the ferocity of the vandalism.

I saw this pattern repeated several times over the last few years. Each time the sign was brought down, the City would take it away, and a few days later it would be back in place.

About four months ago, the sign was flattened yet again. It was taken away as usual, but as of this date, it still hasn't returned. It appears the City has finally given up on replacing it.

I wonder what event engendered such sustained, passionate rage in the sign-smasher.

Is this a rare case where an individual has fought city hall, and won?