A 'Peanuts' Gallery

11/02/1998 at 12:00 AM EST

Minnesota is looking to immortalize Charlie Brown, Snoopy, Lucy, Linus and the rest of the "Peanuts" gang in the state capitol of St. Paul, the original hometown of the strip's creator, Charles M. Schulz. (Schulz, 77, was diagnosed with colon cancer in November and, after 50 years, has retired his drawing board.) The oversized "Peanuts" sculptures would be patterned after last year's "Cows on Parade" promotion in Chicago, which featured dozens of colorfully painted statues. St. Paul Mayor Norm Coleman said that his city's art community could paint the statues. Later, the works could be auctioned to area businesses (with the hope that the artpieces would remain on public display), with the proceeds going to charity. Financing is said to be an issue. Meanwhile, this Sunday is the final color installment of "Peanuts." Check your local funny papers.