A HARD-WORKING GROUP OF TRACY AREA CHAMBER OF COMMERCE MEMBERS spent their Saturday morning taking down the iconic “Welcome to Tracy” sign that has stood along Hwy. 14 for at least 40 years. The old sign, which was wired but hasn’t been lit up for years, will be replaced by a more modern, digital sign the Chamber hopes will be installed before the 99th Annual Box Car Days celebration. Justin Struchen, Drew Hebig, Tom Dobson and Greg Carlson worked Saturday to remove the sign; most of it was salvaged and was brought to the Wheels Across the Prairie Heritage Center for future display. Since the new sign will cast plenty of light, the Chamber also plans on installing some kind of partition to keep the light from projecting into the nearby residential area. There will also be some landscaping done around the new sign. The Chamber is working with DeSmet Weldors on the structure that will hold the new sign. It is unclear what the Chamber will do with the service club signs that were affixed to both sides of the old sign. Photo / Per Peterson
