New signs welcoming people to Wauneta serve a dual purpose.
    They’re a memorial Brian Harchelroad, who died Aug. 9, 2019. But they also were a last piece of unfinished business for the popular local businessman.
    “Brian had originally been put in charge through the Chamber to kind of be in charge of the signs,” Michelle Harchelroad said. “That obviously didn’t happen. I thought it was an opportunity for us to use Brian’s memorial money for that purpose.” Some of the money also went for scholarships for Wauneta-Palisade High School graduates.
    The sign went up in early July on Highway 6 on the eastern end of town, in time for family members here for July 4 to see it. A second one is planned for the western end of town, but has not gone up yet.
    Arranging for the signs’ installation was easy, Harchelroad said. “It was just a matter of replacing [old signs]. Through the state of Nebraska, everything was already in place to put everything up.”
    She said her husband would have liked the donation.
    “I know it was something he really wanted to do, and I know that he would be pleased that’s what we decide to do” with the memorial money. “I probably think of him each time I drive by.”

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