By MAGGIE MCMURRAY
Moapa Valley Progress
In early November of 2014, Moapa Valley resident MaryKaye Washburn was driving from Logandale into Overton and saw something she had not noticed before. More specifically, she didn’t see something that should have been there. The iconic “Welcome to Overton” sign that had welcomed visitors far and near to Overton since the 1960’s had all but disappeared under tall thick weeds and piles of windblown trash.
With Veteran’s day and the upcoming Veteran’s parade on the horizon, Washburn, who is the president of the Moapa Valley Revitalization Project (MVRP), knew she needed to change things.
“I was really mad at myself,” Washburn said. “How often had I driven by that sign and never even noticed the shameful state it was in? It had gone into oblivion, as had our collective pride in the community.”
Washburn galvanized the other members of MVRP, as well as members of her own family, and they launched a project to clean up the welcome to Overton sign.
Once clean and weed free, however, the sign looked a bit bare, Washburn said. So MVRP decorated it in honor of local veterans to set the stage for the 2014 parade.
Washburn said that the response to the cleaned and decorated signage was immense and favorable. So when MVRP went to take down the decorations at the beginning of December, they decided to pick up some inexpensive Christmas decorations and decorate the sign again.
In their December 2014 meeting, MVRP discussed the sign and decided to see what the community thought. The group posted on their facebook page that volunteers were being sought to continue decorating the sign throughout the year.
Even Washburn was surprised at the overwhelming response they got. “In just a matter of days, the entire 2015 year was spoken for,” Washburn recalled. “It was wonderful.”
Besides the fun spirit the decorated sign brings to the valley, MVRP has seen other benefits from the project. “Decorating the sign has rekindled a sense of pride in Moapa Valley,” Washburn said. “We’ve had reports of tourists stopping for photos in front of the sign, and residents excitedly looking forward to what decorations the new month brings.”
Visitors and tourists are not the only ones to take notice of the sign. In September of this year, local Boy Scout Joseph Muhlestein became aware of the sign and knew he could make it better. He decided to make improving the sign his Eagle Project. He was able to get supplies and man-hours donated to give the sign a real overhaul.
Over a period of two days, Muhlstein and his volunteers restained the wood, touched up the paint, and then built decorative rock columns around the bottom supporting posts. They also have a plan in place to add curbing and decorative rock around the bottom of the pillars soon.
“It looks like a National Park sign now!” Muhlestein said.
Volunteers throughout the year have changed the look of the sign every month with the season. But they didn’t just decorate. Every volunteer was also in charge of weeding around the sign and cleaning any trash, making the sign look nice from all angles.
The January 2015 decorating was done by MVRP and Shelly Benkman. February’s sign was decorated in red and pink hearts by Rey of Light Photography. In March the sign was decorated in St. Patrick’s Day garb by Town and Country Estates. April was taken by Kathi Cooper and Shelly Benkman, who chose to go with a western themed cowboy and cowgirl silhouettes, ropes and western gear in honor of the Fair. May was decorated by Cal’s Auto Repair, who went with a whimsical spring theme complete with flowers and butterflies. June was done by the LDS over 40 singles, who chose a Grads and Dads theme.
Robbins Nest and the VFW took on July with a red, white, and blue display of patriot pride. August was under the direction of the Senior Center Thrift Store and was a shoutout to the fun to be had at nearby Lake Mead; with waterskis, fishing poles, and even some fish. September’s sign was decorated by the Lost City Museum with ancient-looking petroglyphs added to the sign. October was done by Ashley Thornton, who featured the local Tough Enough to Wear Pink campaign but also made sure that Halloween was represented. November turned the sign back into a red, white, and blue display in a salute to veterans, thanks to Amberlee Gollahan. And this month’s sign was decorated in an elegant Christmas theme, thanks to Karen Alsum Insurance.
Washburn expresses her thanks and appreciation to all the volunteers who have helped with sign and is excited for the upcoming year.
“It has been fairly easy to manage the upkeep of the sign, as individuals and groups, excited to do their part, have approached MVRP requesting their month for decorating the sign,” Washburn said. “Without posting for volunteers, other than January, we already have 2016 covered through May.”
Washburn said that anyone wishing to volunteer for a month with the sign can contact her at 702-592-5070.
