The iconic cow boss statue overlooking the Williams Lake Stampede Grounds has been dismounted.
Sometime Thursday the statue — carved by Ken Sheen and repainted recently by Dwayne Davis — came off its cement platform at the intersection of Oliver Street and Eighth Avenue.
As of Saturday morning the only thing that remains are some pieces of wood - part of one of the cowboy’s boots - still attached to the platform.
READ MORE: Cow boss statue slated for repairs
Williams Lake Mayor Walt Cobb said he is absolutely disgusted by the act if it was, in fact, vandalized, however, the city’s director of municipal services, Gary Muraca, said it could have simply fallen down due to rot.
“It had substantial rot and we are not sure if it was knocked over or fell over,” Muraca said. “We do have video in the area and will be looking into it on Monday. At this time, nothing is conclusive.”
Cobb, meanwhile, expressed frustration if video shows it had been vandalized.
“It’s just really, really disappointing that vandals would do such a thing,” Cobb said.
“I wonder what the rationale is? People are sick. We spend all this money trying to beautify our town and we just get these people who are idiots.”
Muraca added public works currently has the statue at its works yard and it is in tact.
“If the city’s wants to rebuild it at least we still have a model to go by,” he said.
The Tribune is trying to obtain video footage of the incident.
The statue has been the target of vandalism several times in the past.
More to come.
Editor’s note: This story has been updated to reflect the possibility the base of the statue was rotten and could have toppled over.
greg.sabatino@wltribune.com
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