Fountain suds pranksters, sculpture vandals are the same punks, methinks

The fountain, as seen a week ago Saturday.

As is often my job at the Murray house, I was driving my daughter Emma and her friend Kim to Lancers practice a week ago or so, 7:45 a.m.-ish on a Saturday morning, when I saw something that made me giggle.

Occasionally, the local kids will pull a cute little prank at the fountain in lower North Mankato, the one that sits on that plot of grass where Belgrade Avenue curves around and Lake Street bumps into it. It's a respectable fountain, dignified enough with its water shooters spraying H2O a few feet into the air, the paver stones around it etched with the names of the people who plunked down their $50 to help fund it.

But on this morning, the site of water streaming through the air was replaced by something that we've seen a few times over the past few summers: Suds. Apparently, some local kids (or maybe adults, who knows?) injected the fountain with a little dish soap, and injected the scenery for passing motorists with a little levity.

Fast forward to this past weekend when, under cover of night, someone removed a piece of a sculpture that featured a series of standing human figures. The sculpture is part of the City Art Sculpture Walk that features 25 pieces mostly in Mankato, but a few in North Mankato, as well.

Henry, the crime-fighting beagle.

Now, I'm no professional detective, but the level of intellect seemingly at the root of these acts appears to be about the same. My guess is that, if you find the "Dish Soap Bandits" (as I like to call them) you'll find the "Partial Art Bandits" (again, as I like to call them, if they're in fact different bandits than the Dish Soap Bandits.)

Not sure what the local police have in mind, but I'm considering grabbing my beagle, Henry, and coming out of retirement as a crime-solving duo. Henry and I used to be famous for going on adventures and solving crimes (or so I tell my kids, which makes them laugh ... I once convinced my daughter I'd spent a few years playing for the Vikings, that I've been an apprentice blacksmith, and that I've been a pilot, only the lattermost of which is actually true.)

So, I'll give the local men and women in blue a few days to solve the caper. Then, perhaps, Henry and I might have to do some investigating. Suspect No. 1 might just live in my own house. Maybe I can come up with a list of possible suspects to give North Mankato's finest something to chew on.