Most people take pride in their communities and will go the extra mile to get things done. 

Johnny Stevens, a Macon painter, decided to go to extreme heights to help spruce up a highway sign near Mercer University.

Friday morning, Stevens and a couple of his work partners met on I-75 South, just under the Napier Avenue overpass.  The team wanted to clean up graffiti that covered the Mercer University exit sign for over two months.

"Somebody wrote this on the sign I couldn't (make out) what it said, but after slowing down a couple of times I figured out what it said.", explained Stevens.

The sign said "cold heart Nicole."  But how did it get there?

Stevens says, "The fence was pushed down a little bit.  They actually climbed over the fence and walked out there on that catwalk and did it."

Being a contractor for Mercer University for over 20 years gives Stevens a sentimental connection to its name. He says, "It was kind of an eyesore for me to see that over (it)."

Stevens teamed up with Rick Knight on the Rick Knight Road Show in order to grab the public's attention. This caused Knight to get Mayor Robert Reichert on the show to discuss a plan of action.

In the process, Knight ensured Mayor Reichert that Stevens would be the best man for the job. 

Reichert told them to go ahead and clear the graffiti from the sign.  He also sent an officer to the scene to make sure busy drivers stayed over one lane.

While using his own equipment, and brave instinct, Stevens and his crew hovered over I-75  to wipe away a message that could have been a major hazard to drivers.