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The town of Thorsby turned on its new LED sign for the first time on April 7 in a celebration held in front of town hall.

The event, which saw Mayor Jean Nelson as well as members of the Town Council, among others, gather to turn on the sign and demonstrated the sign’s ability to relay messages.

“I want to thank Laura (Liveoak) and the Swedish Fest Committee for working so hard to raise the money to buy this to enhance the town,” Nelson said. “Glenn (Littleton) has worked so hard, and he’s the one that has got it programmed.”

Those in attendance braved rainy conditions to watch the approximately 8-feet-by-4-feet LED sign light up and flash a message that read “Thank you Swedish Fest Committee for the new electronic sign,” which —like all of the sign’s messages—was programmed through a computer by Littleton.

Liveoak, the Swedish Fest president and chairwoman, said the idea came to the committee shortly after last year’s Swedish Fest.

“In our meeting after the festival, we always try to come up with ideas (to utilize the funds),” she said. “We realized it would be beneficial to the whole town. It’s the town’s money working.”

The sign, which came from Stewart Signs in Clanton, will be used to broadcast messages and event dates—such as youth sports registrations—to the town.

It was purchased completely with funds raised from the Swedish Fest, and the committee could not release the exact price of the sign due to an agreement with the manufacturer.

Liveoak said the main draw to purchasing the sign was that it could be used in any situation, from “the weather messing up the Fourth of July fireworks, or if the garbage pickup is changed.”

“Anyone can use it,” she said.

Liveoak said she felt great things could be accomplished by a small town working together.

“If we all work together to enhance our little town, everybody wins,” she said.