9-11 Tribute Memorial Site Re-located to Big Timbers

9-11 Tribute Memorial Site at Big Timbers Museum

The Prowers County Commissioners approved the requested site change for the proposed 9-11 Tribute Memorial during their May 9^th meeting.  Two other sites had been considered, at Bicentennial Park across from Lamar Middle School and at the corner of Savage Avenue and Highway 287, across the road from Mission Villanueva Restaurant, with that location considered to be the stronger contender.  Each site offered visibility from the highway, but only limited parking.

Tribute Board Meets with County Commissioners

The commissioners finalized the new easement agreement between the County and Doug Harbour and Carla Scranton, members of the 9-11Tribute Foundation as well as with City of Lamar Engineer, Wiley Work, Kathy Scranton, museum curator and County Attorney, John Lefferdink, all on hand to answer any last minute questions. Lefferdink said the deeds had been completed and the group, “nailed down the easement access and that was portrayed on the plat, so it’s ready for approval.” Work told the commissioners that some space was used in creating the easement, “Lamar Light and Power wanted 10 feet from their overhead electric line that came off their primary, so I used five feet to the easement and five feet to the edge of concrete for that.  That puts the east edge of the edge of concrete 34 feet from the edge of pavement from Highway 96.”  Work said the placement of the memorial is okay with measurements of water lines provided by the May Valley Water Association.  Kathy Scranton said a proposed CDOT kiosk is expected to be built by next spring in 2017, and neither project will interfere with the other.

Harbour, who organizes the annual September First Responders tribute and parade, explained the site change. “Across from Mission Villaneuva would have been good, but this way, at the museum, it’ll add more potential visitors to the museum site because it incorporates Highway 50 travelers as well.  The museum already has a good sized parking lot.  At Bicentennial Park, people would probably just have to look at it as they drove by because there’s only space for about five or six cars.  We want this to be a site where visiting school children can learn more about September 11 and the combination of the memorial and museum will serve to attract more visitors to each display.

By Russ Baldwin