Parade moved back outside so the public can enjoy them, said Susan Bigg, chairperson of the Kearney Rotary project.

"It's a public art project, they should be out there where the public can see them," Bigg said. "We decided to take the risk."

After four of the 31 cranes were stolen, the cranes were placed inside the sponsoring businesses. Two stolen cranes were recovered, but had some damage.

Maps showing where the cranes are located went fast, and places are requesting more, Bigg said.

"The maps are out there and people are wanting to see (the cranes) and usually when they come to town, it's a weekend and (the cranes) are inside where they can't be seen," Bigg said.

Some businesses already have been putting the cranes outside during business hours and bringing them in at night. Cranes in the Kearney Public Library and Buffalo County Courthouse may remain inside.

There has been a lot of interest in the cranes, and even some outside of Nebraska.

"I've gotten calls from Wisconsin, Iowa and Omaha saying 'We're coming, are the cranes out?'" Bigg said.

The cranes will again be bolted down, although Bigg said the Rotary organization discussed other methods.

"We decided that if someone's going to hook a chain up to a pickup and haul them away, they'll do it no matter how they are attached," she said.

But Bigg said the public and police are more aware and will keep a closer eye on the sculptures.

The cranes that were stolen and recovered are being repaired and will go back to the artists next week to be repainted.

Prewitt Fiberglass in Gibbon, which made the cranes, plans to have cranes finished soon to replace the two that were not recovered.

The crane decorated by Kenwood students will be redone in the fall when students come back to class, but different students will be doing the artwork.

"The new class in the fall will redo it," Bigg said. "It's kind sad because the class (that decorated the first one) will be moving on and won't get to do it."

She said a book published on the Cranes on Parade will have photos of the original crane.

"At least we got these wonderful photos of the first Kenwood crane," Bigg said. 

e-mail to: amy.schweitzer@kearneyhub.com