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Vandals won't deter volunteer
Gallagher and a group of volunteers spent the better part of a Saturday in the middle of June picking up trash, removing brush and painting safety pillars and a pavilion at the overlook near Lock and Dam No. 4.
The effort was organized by Natrona Comes Together Association as part of River Sweep 2006, which is an annual, multi-state project aimed at cleaning up the banks of the Ohio River tributaries.
Gallagher said he was "disgusted and irritated" to find that vandals painted swastikas and other graffiti on about 25 pillars and a couple benches at the overlook late July 5.
"We were devastated by this," he said. "It was really disgusting."
Gallagher said he couldn't let the graffiti remain. He and a few other volunteers were at the park on July 6 repainting the pillars.
The pillars are painted red, white and blue.
A white swastika remains painted on the side of a dumpster near the overlook, and brown graffiti, like that which was painted on the pillars, remains on a "No Outlet" sign there.
"We've been down here on a daily basis trying to keep things in order," Gallagher said.
Gallagher set up several plastic trash bags along the overlook, hoping people would use them rather than toss junk over the hillside.
Garbage is already beginning to accumulate on the rocky riverbank.
Gallagher said police surveyed the scene before the graffiti were painted over.
Commissioner George Conroy said he had no knowledge of the graffiti incident.
"It doesn't surprise me," Conroy said about the graffiti. "It's a problem everywhere."
He added: "We need help from the residents down there. When they see something, they need to give the police a tip."
Gallagher said a number of residents near Veterans Way have been keeping an eye on activity there.
"We're trying to keep it nice down here so that people can come and enjoy this area," he said.
Gallagher, who is vice president of Natrona Comes Together, said he's trying to raise money to get a flag pole erected at the overlook.
"I think it would be appropriate," he said.
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