Socks screw up sewer system at U. of Alaska Fairbanks

(CBS/AP) FAIRBANKS, Alaska - Wondering where those single socks may have gone lately?

Maybe check out the fine arts center at the University of Alaska Fairbanks, which has recently suffered $15,000 worth of damage, apparently because someone's been stuffing children's socks in the sewer system.

The Fairbanks Daily News-Miner reports the socks have been flushed down toilets in the facility's lower level since December.

After campus officials posted signs asking the sock-flusher or flushers to stop, 40 socks were flushed down the toilets in one week.

Maintenance superintendent Bill Cox says officials are powerless to stop the sock assault.

The socks are making it through the toilets, but are getting caught in a series of pump motors at a lift station.

The maintenance staff has a 30-gallon bucket nearly full of socks retrieved from the sewer system.

Fine art it's not.