Scouts complete new welcome signs for West Lafayette

West Lafayette now has two new signs to welcome visitors to the village. One sign was placed on County Road 16, and the other is on state Route 93.

The signs are Eagle Scout projects for Slade Miller and Wesson McPherson. The young men had the help of Boy Scout Troop 419.

West Lafayette Mayor Jessie Tubbs said she is thrilled the Scouts chose this project. “The revitalization committee has previously recommended a new marquis to the village — an idea originally suggested by Margaret Lowe and several others through Lori Cabot.”

Tubbs said when Scoutmaster Jimmy Miller reached out for ideas, the new signs stood out to the Scouts.

“The guys truly ran with it. Kelly Erb provided tremendous support in bringing it all together. The teamwork and dedication shown by the Shurtz family, McWane, Bice Masonry and our sidewalk contractor T.R. Snyder turned a big project into a major improvement for our village,” Tubbs said.

Miller said the old sign coming into the village from Coshocton was deteriorating and his son Slade wanted to do something about it.

“The conversation with the village led to installing one coming in from Fresno as well. The decision was the boys’ decision,” Jimmy Miller said.

Slade Miller and McPherson are both currently Life Scouts and were looking for projects to do to gain their Eagle Scout rank.

Jimmy Miller said both young men have been involved with Scouting since they were in first grade.

“They joined Pack 409 as Cub Scouts," Jimmy Miller said. "They crossed over to Boy Scout Troop 419 in 2020, with the ambition of someday becoming Eagle Scouts. Both are juniors at Ridgewood High School and are involved in other activities outside of Scouting.”

Slade Miller said being a part of Boy Scouts has taught him many life skills and lessons that help him every day.

“(Becoming an Eagle Scout) has been a life goal, and it will help later in life when applying to colleges and jobs,” he said.

He said the hardest part of the project was digging the holes and finding time when everyone could help. His sign is located on County Road 16.

While his sign is up, the project is not finished. “We still have to put gravel and bushes down,” he said.

After that, he will need to fill out paperwork about his project and wait for that to be processed. “Then I have my board of review for the project, and if I pass that, then I become an Eagle Scout,” he said.

McPherson said the waiting was the hardest part of his project. “It was very nerve-wracking having to wait on different approvals for everything," he said. "Juggling all of the moving parts of the project was challenging. Luckily, my Scoutmaster and my parents were very helpful in anything we needed, and we had many local businesses that stepped up and made this project possible.”

He said Scouting is something that will always be with him, and becoming an Eagle Scout is something he has worked toward since joining Scouts in the first grade.

“Being able to say that I made it all the way brings a great sense of accomplishment to me, and I very much enjoy it," McPherson said. "I have met so many great people from all over the country through Scouts, especially since I was granted the privilege to go to the National Jamboree in 2023. I’m also thrilled that I am able to do it again in the summer of 2026.”

He said Scouting has improved his social and leadership skills. “And, of course, it has taught me to always be prepared,” McPherson said.

He wants to be an Eagle Scout for many reasons, but the biggest one is following the principles of the Scout Oath and Law — not only while in Scouts, but anytime, anywhere, he said.

Miller, McPherson and the troop want to thank McWane Ductile Inc., Hilsher-Clarke Electric, Brillhart’s Body Shop, Bice and Son’s Masonry, TR Construction, Shurtz Family Farms, the Village of West Lafayette, and all the volunteers from Troop 419.

Tubbs said, “A heartfelt thank-you to Wesson and Slade and to everyone who played a role in making this vision come to life. The signs are beautiful.”