KANSAS PLUGS LOCAL CELEBS THROUGH SIGNS

Kansas communities boasting the homes of Miss Americas, astronauts, basketball champions -- even an international power-lifting champion -- receive official Kansas Highway Department signs commemorating the distinction.

Arlen Tappan, state traffic signing engineer, said about half a dozen commemorative signs are made each year for Kansas communities with achievements or notable natives.

Could Rush Limbaugh get a tax-paid highway sign if his hometown were in Kansas?

"Well I guess so," Tappan said. "He's well known around the country. I'm sure the president knows who he is."

Tappan said the cost of Kansas' commemorative signs is minimal and lumped in the annual $350,000 budget for highway signs. He wouldn't guess the price of a single sign.

"It's not a big elaborate program," Tappan said. He estimated about 50 signs stand at entrances to towns across the state.

For example, 1988 Heisman Trophy winner Barry Sanders is from Wichita. A sign boasting that fact stands at the city's entrance.

The signs stay up for a year unless the state legislature enacts a resolution making them permanent.

The hometown of Miss Kansas each year gets a commemorative sign. "That person brings national attention at the pageant," Tappan said.

When the University of Kansas won a national basketball title, signs were erected at Lawrence. An international power-lifting champion brought fame to McPherson, which erected a sign.

Communities submit their requests to the highway department, where employees decide if a sign is warranted. If the event or person brought national attention to Kansas, it qualifies.

Signs are erected at no cost to the communities.

The official green and white signs are on small two-lane roads as well as interstates.

Tappan thinks the program works to build pride in communities. Tourism is an added benefit.

"People who are traveling across the state know that we do have groups or individuals that are real good in their field or endeavor," he said.