It’s a way to pay permanent tribute to a fallen soldier. That’s the motivation behind the Lawrence County Commissioners wanting to rename Marion Pike in Coal Grove in honor of Sgt. Justin Bradley Allen.

Allen, a Coal Grove native and Army Ranger, was killed July 18, while conducting a combat operation in Kandahar Province Afghanistan. Allen was on his fourth deployment with the Rangers and was a team leader assigned to Company D 1st Battalion 75th Ranger Regiment at Hunter Army Airfield, Ga.

“We wanted to take time to recognize how great this man was,” Commissioner Les Boggs said.

During its regular Thursday meeting commissioners approved sending a letter to the Ohio Department of Transportation requesting the name change.

“We request that it be named Sgt. Justin Bradley Allen after a true American hero,” he said.

Commissioner Jason Stephens reported that a subcontractor for AT&T will be erecting two new cell towers in Fayette Township in an effort to improve cell phone coverage in that part of the county. Improving coverage has been a high priority of the commission.

“As we continue to grow and the technology continues to improve I think it is important that we keep our voices heard (on improving coverage),” Stephens said.

In other business the commission:

• Approved hiring Carol Bowen and Chad Bowman as part-time 911 dispatchers at an hourly rate of $11.69;

• Approved giving Tim Sexton, Lawrence County Drug Task Force director, signature authority to file reports with the Office of Criminal Justice;

• Approved requests for Lori Morris, Buddy Fry and Lonnie Best for out of county travel.