Hey,

I just found this article on Yahoo News and thought I would share it with ya'll.

"RALEIGH, N.C. - A bronze statue of Sheriff Andy Taylor (news) and his son, Opie, from "The Andy Griffith (news) Show" will be installed at Raleigh's Pullen Park.

The statue commemorates the walk to a fishing hole that Taylor, played by Andy Griffith, and Opie, played by Ron Howard (news), took in the opening credits of the popular television show.


The Raleigh City Council agreed Tuesday that the popular park just west of downtown Raleigh is the best place for the statue, which the cable network TV Land plans to install and maintain.


In November, the council accepted TV Land's offer for the Andy and Opie statue. Since then, the city has worked with the New York-based network to find a location.


The statue will go between the park's carousel and the lake at the park — a favorite spot for visitors, especially families with young children. The statue will be slightly larger than life, with Andy standing about 6 feet 9 inches tall and Opie standing about 3 feet 9 inches tall.


It's the third statue the network has installed to depict fictional TV characters. It placed Ralph Kramden from "The Honeymooners" in New York in 2000 and Mary Richards from "The Mary Tyler Moore (news) Show" in Minneapolis last May.


Rob Pellizzi, senior vice president of marketing and promotions for TV Land, said the network has sent invitations to 25 artists, including about 15 from North Carolina, to design the piece."

I heard it too! Here is a little more info incase you want it.

A statue depicting Andy and Opie walking to the fishing hole on "The Andy Griffith Show" will be erected in a Raleigh, N.C., park.

The Raleigh City Council gave its OK Tuesday (Jan. 21) to placing the statue in a park near the city's downtown area, the AP reports. The classic-TV cable network TV Land is paying for the installation and upkeep.

The sculpture will show Andy and his son, Opie (played by Ron Howard in the 1960s series), walking to a fishing hole -- a scene show in the show's opening credits. TV Land has asked about two dozen artists, most from North Carolina, to submit designs for the statue.

The statue is the third based on classic TV characters that TV Land has installed. One of Ralph Kramden (Jackie Gleason) from "The Honeymooners" went up in New York in 2000, and a statue of Mary Richards (Mary Tyler Moore) from "The Mary Tyler Moore Show" was dedicated last year in Minneapolis, where the show was set.

Griffith is from Mt. Airy, N.C., about 140 miles northeast of Raleigh. The show's fictional town of Mayberry was based on Griffith's home.

those are great. thanks for the articals guys! :D