AUSTIN TAKES 'PRIDE' TO NEW LEVEL

Rick Walker is shown with new "Welcome to Austin" sign that began as his school graduation project in 2006. It's mounted along Rt. 607. Two more signs are in the planning stages.

Visitors to the town of Austin are greeted with a colorful and attractive welcome sign, thanks to an idea that started as a student's graduation project and became a community cause.

It all started in late 2006 when student Adam Walker got the necessary approvals and conferred with long-time artist and sign expert Tooter Randall, A&S Enterprises, of Coudersport.

Randall drew up the plans and Walker went to work attempting to raise the $6,000 - about $2,000 per sign - that would be needed.

Members of the Austin Pride Committee joined the cause and funds were solicited from many area organizations and individuals.

By late last year, enough money had been raised to order the first sign. Last week, Tooter Randall came to Austin and joined Adam Walker, Don Hunsinger, Rick Walker and Denny Cooney to complete the sign and mount it on Rt. 607 entering Austin, near the Frank residence.

Another student, Alex Ebbert from the class of 2009, has stepped up to continue the fund-raising and townspeople are hoping to have the other two signs in place before long at each of the town's Rt. 872 gateways.

Among those supporting the cause are Austin VFW, Cockeyed Cricket (and its men's and women's dart leagues), Angela Jeffers, Austin Pride Committee, Get-Together Club, E. O. Austin Historical Society, Austin Communities That Care, Austin Baseball Association, East Fork Sportsmen's Club, Austin Area PTO, Sunny Hill Pipe Supply, Cooney's Mountain Mustard, Northwest Savings Bank, along with other local businesses and organizations.