ROANOKE TIMES 
                      Copyright (c) 1997, Roanoke Times

DATE: Thursday, April 24, 1997               TAG: 9704240052
SECTION: VIRGINIA                 PAGE: C-3  EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: COURTNEY MILLER

STAR GOES TO PIECES FOR A TIME

The Mill Mountain Star's renovation got under way with workers starting to disassemble it.

Workers from Kinsey Crane and Sign Co. of Roanoke began removing the Mill Mountain Star's neon tubing Wednesday - the first step in its $60,000 renovation.

The star will remain dark throughout the project, which is expected to take about 90 days.

After the tubing is removed, workers from Williams Painting and Remodeling of Roanoke will replace rusted sections of the metal framework and repaint it.

City spokeswoman Barb Mitchell said the supporting structure, which is brown, will be painted white.

Scaffolding will begin to be erected this Monday, after the neon tubing is removed. Kinsey Crane and Sign, which built the star in 1949, will install new neon tubing and wiring when painting is complete.

The entire structure was last painted and repaired in 1971.

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