Group wants cross removed

CALDWELL -- A tiny cross on top of a small church in the center of the official Canyon County seal is causing some controversy.

At least one group wants it removed, but a Canyon County commissioner says their opinion comes a year too late.

The citizens group called Canyon County Watchdogs is upset with the religious image they noticed a couple of months ago, and now they want it removed.

But the county says a year ago, residents were given the opportunity to pick the seal, and this was the one that was chosen.

Canyon County commissioners approved the new seal in November 2005.  Five different images were taken to the people, shown in public meetings and to several civic groups.  In the end, the county says this one was chosen because it best represented a modern day Canyon county.

The watchdog group says the church is not the problem. In fact, it could represent several religions.

It’s the small white cross that represents only Christianity in a community filled with different religious beliefs.

"I don't think it would have been a problem if it had just been a church, but when you put the cross then you've excluded a lot of religions. If you would have put on the other foot and if we had a ruling party with Mohammed on that seal, I know a lot of Christians that would have been tearing the courthouse down," said Deloris Cram, watchdog group spokesperson.

“My response is, it's a very innocuous item on a very large seal, it's supposed to depict the entire county and its culture. And I can point out to you, tractor for farming, fish, cows, horses, industry, schools, the church with the tiny cross on the top, grain elevator, mountains, hills, canyons, rivers - it's a tiny part of a very large seal that attempted to depict everything about the county. That was difficult to do," said Matt Beebe, Canyon County Commissioner.