Herky statues pulled in early

Vandals have won and an Iowa City display of mascots will end. Fiberglass statues of University of Iowa mascot Herky the Hawk have been a target for vandals since just hours after they were put up on the streets of Iowa City and Coralville. The seven-foot figures made of copper and fiberglass were put up in honor of the 75th anniversary of the University of Iowa’s Kinnick Stadium, and they were supposed to remain up until November 21, when the Hawkeyes play Wisconsin, their last game of the season. Culprits have broken off hats and other props, damaged the statues themselves, torn them off their concrete bases and left at least one shattered in the street. After repeatedly saying the display would not come down early, organizers have changed their minds and taken all the Herkys off their posts and put them into storage to preclude another burst of vandalism on Halloween. You’ll be able to see them one more time — on December 13 there’ll be a ceremony at Coralville’s ice arena called Herky on Ice — A Frozen Farewell.