The southwest Iowa town of Clarinda is moving forward with plans to create a large mural to honor native son Glenn Miller, the famed big band leader from the 1940s.
The Glenn Miller Birthplace Society is working with artist John Cerney to develop the project on Highway 71 south of town.
Coordinator Gary Alger says they’re raising money to pay for the project.
“We started working on this at least a couple months ago,” Alger says. “We couldn’t really push the fundraising, because we had to get approval from the DOT to put this south of town. So, as you’re coming into town from the south, the artist asked for that, because he said that was the best place to display it.”
Cerney is based in Salinas, California, and he specializes in larger-than-life plywood painted figures near highways. Alger says the rising cost of building materials means more funds are needed to make the project a reality.
“They thought they could do the initial part for about $10,000,” Alger says. “We’ve got various donations from $50 to $2,000. I just got word that we got four more $1,000 donations coming in.”
For more information or to contribute to the project, contact Alger at (712) 542-3887.
By Ryan Matheny, KMA, Shenandoah