COAL GROVE — Thanks to the generosity of one local business, the Village of Coal Grove now has a new way to welcome visitors.

On South Third Street just across from Village Variety, a new limestone and quartz welcome sign was set into place. The stone was donated by Buckeye Monument in Ironton.

An inscription on the stone, “Keeping community pride alive,” gets to the heart of why the company’s president, Greg Klaiber, made the donation.

“We’ve always had a good relationship with the village,” Klaiber said. “And any kind of beautification efforts of the village … I’m for it.”

The new stone sign, set with wooden posts, replaces an older two- by three-foot metal sign.

“I think it turned out really good,” Coal Grove Mayor Larry McDaniel said.

McDaniel said he and his wife Vicki, who is also the Coal Grove Betterment Club President, said they approached Klaiber last fall in hopes Buckeye Monument would help the village.

The sign went in about a month ago. Klaiber took care of the cost of the stone and labor. McDaniel said the village picked up the cost of the wooden posts.

Klaiber, a native of Coal Grove, has also donated other signs to the village in past years, including one at the Coal Grove Little League field and one in front of the village townhouse.

“I want to thank Greg and Buckeye Monument,” McDaniel said. “I also want to thank the community service work program for cutting the weeds.”