Cranes stolen from Parade
		KEARNEY - Someone stole at least four of the Cranes on Parade. The fiberglass cranes at Kenwood Elementary School at 511 Fifth Ave., City Glass at 2500 W. Highway 30, Contemporary Obstetrics & Gynecology at 101 W. 24th St. and Kearney Community Theatre at 83 Plaza Blvd. were reported stolen between Sunday morning and today, Kearney Police Sgt. Colin Wilke said. The Mirage Crane was decorated with the Kenwood students' artwork, and the City Glass crane was known as Old Glory because it was decorated in red, white and blue. The third crane reported stolen, titled the Roots of Nebraska Crane, was painted with corn stalks by the Kearney High School 3-D design class. Fractional Crane at KCT was sponsored by Baldwin Filters and decorated with geometrical designs.
photo collage by Scott McLaughlin Four of the completed Cranes On Parade projects were ripped from their bolted platforms.
By AMY SCHWEITZER Hub Staff Writer

Susan Bigg, chairman of the project said the thefts were "really sad."

She said the police recommended to her to put the cranes inside buildings so more of them don't disappear. This morning, the remaining statues were unbolted and taken indoors.

"It's sad because the whole point of the project was for them to be out where people could be looking at them," she said.

Kearney Dawn Rotary Club's Cranes on Parade project placed 31 cranes decorated by Kearney artists around town. In October, the cranes will be auctioned off with proceeds going to Rotary projects and scholarships, as well as community charities and organizations, including law enforcement, emergency services, The Museum of Nebraska Art and other art projects, according to the Cranes on Parade Web site.

Wilke valued each crane at about $1,750, but Bigg said the auction value could be much higher. The value of more than $1,000 make the thefts a felony.

Stephanie Dickey of the crane committee said they were hoping the cranes would soon be returned undamaged.

"It would definitely be in (the thieves') best interest to return (the cranes) as soon as possible," Dickey said.

If anyone has any information on the missing cranes, call Crimestoppers at 237-3424.  e-mail to: amy.schweitzer@kearneyhub.com