(Milan, Ind.) - Next time you are in Milan, just look at the number of bars on your cell phone reception.

While most places take cell phone reception for granted nowadays, up until last week residents and visitors to the Town of Milan had no such luck making a phone call or sending out a text message.

Milaners had known for a few months that it was only a matter of time before cell phone service came to town. Verizon Wireless began construction of a cell tower on County Road 625 East at County Road 200 North, just about a mile southwest of town, last Spring. Verizon was given approval by county officials for a neccessary variance to build the tower in 2009.

“The Milan site was just turned up today,” Verizon Wireless spokesperson Michelle Gilbert told Eagle 99.3 on Friday, a date that may go down as a landmark day for the town, right next to the anniversary of the legendary 1954 state championship in basketball for Milan High School.

The new cell tower is now operating on a full-time status.

Milan residents have told Eagle 99.3 there is now little issue with reception, with one person saying they could make a cell phone call from their basement. Gone are the days of standing in a particular spot in the JayCee grocery parking lot beneath a specific light post while holding the phone at a certain angle in hopes of getting just one bar.

Gilbert previously said Verizon would likely allow other carrier like AT&T to rent space on the tower.

The Milan tower is the second to be activated in eastern Ripley County in September. A tower in Elrod went into service a couple weeks earlier.

LINKS:

New Cell Tower In Ripley County

Calling Milan: Cell Tower Going Up

Verizon Pursuing Milan Tower