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Capitol Building Vandalized Overnight

Capitol employee Greg Hess tries to scrub graffiti off war memorial on Thursday.
Jake Neher
/
MPRN
Capitol employee Greg Hess tries to scrub graffiti off war memorial on Thursday.

State police are trying to find who is responsible for vandalizing the state Capitol building early Thursday morning. Facilities workers say the damage is the worst they’ve seen in decades.

It’s not easy taking care of a historic building like the state Capitol. But it makes it much harder for people like decorative painter Greg Hess when their time… and budget… are spent cleaning up acts of vandalism.

Hess was trying to scrub off a spray-painted message reading “Give art a chance” from the back of a war memorial on the Capitol lawn.

Just a few hundred feet away, one male and one female stick figure were sprayed right on two of the building’s columns.

Officials estimate the graffiti could cost the state up to $8,000. That money would otherwise be spent on a list of other much-needed repairs to the historic landmark.

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