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CORNISH, Utah (AP) -- Twice a week, Fred Veibell hauls his lawnmower to Town Hall in a yellow Toyota pickup. He cuts and waters, and the grass is left lush and immaculate.
He is a volunteer, an altruist and all-around good neighbor. And at 87 years old, he shows no sign of slowing down.
"Anything I do for the city is volunteer," Veibell said. "I haven't collected a dime. I just call it city service."
When weeds were encroaching on the Town Hall building about six years ago, he cleared them and planted grass in their place.
"He took the initiative to beautify the City Hall grounds and make it a nice place to view," said his grandson, Scott Trimble.
Veibell intended to make the area a place that residents can be proud of. He has mowed the lawn, cleaned up leaves and fertilized the grounds ever since.
In 2003, the Cornish Town Council formally acknowledged Veibell for years of service to the community.
"Our town looks better in many ways thanks to your efforts," the council wrote. "We are fortunate to have citizens like you living in Cornish."
Veibell is retired from Presto Products in Lewiston, where he inspected plastic bags for 18 years, but he remains quite active.
Each morning, he walks a mile and a half around town with a neighbor. He even strives to stay sharp mentally, dabbling daily with the computer, unlike many his age.
"I like to keep my records and write my e-mail," Veibell said. "And I like to brag about it."
His wife, Grace, said he is "busy, busy, busy. He can't sit still too much. He comes in and gets a 20-minute nap, and he's gone again."
When Veibell is not at home, he can likely be found up at Town Hall or helping a neighbor in need.
Tosha Petersen, who lives down the street, said Veibell has been mowing her front lawn since her family moved to Cornish a year and a half ago. During that time, they have only had to cut the lawn themselves two or three times.
When she and her husband were tearing up weeds in their backyard recently, Veibell showed up to offer his services.
"Just the other week, Fred came back and took the shovel from me and said I shouldn't be doing it because I was pregnant," Petersen said. "After that, he sharpened all the shovels."
While Petersen appreciates the assistance, she is also encouraged.
"Mostly, it renews my faith in people," she said. "He doesn't expect anything in return."
If the town ever offered to compensate Veibell, he would not accept.
"I'd have to pay taxes on it anyway," he quipped.
Trimble said his grandfather has instilled the importance of serving others in his extended family, which even includes four great-great-grandchildren.
"He's always told his grandkids to go the extra mile," Trimble said. "We try to emulate him, but I don't think any of us can match what he's done."
(Copyright 2006 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)
