Andy, Opie immortalized in Raleigh bronze statue

About 3,000 fans of "The Andy Griffith Show" are expected to crowd a grassy plaza in downtown Raleigh, N.C., Tuesday morning for the introduction of a bronze statue dedicated to the popular 1960s show.

The statue of Sheriff Andy Taylor and his son, Opie, on their way to the fishin' hole comes to the city from the cable network TV Land. In a deal that Raleigh and the network signed in March, TV Land agreed to build and maintain the statue at no cost to the city.

The 77-year-old Griffith, who's from Mt. Airy, now lives on the coast in Manteo. Some in Mt. Airy have grumbled that their city is a better location for the statue.