Phillips County Administrator Pam Jensen, at left, and Joy Schafer unveil the new sign at the entrance of the Phillips County Fairgrounds. The majority of the sign was paid for by former Administrator Randy Schafer’s memorial funds. — The Holyoke Enterprise | Johnson Publications
Schafer’s design, memorial funds pave way to new sign
When heading north from downtown Holyoke on Highway 385, there will no longer be a question as to where the Phillips County Fairgrounds are located.
A large light-up sign ordered from TJ-D Signs in Sterling was installed at the fairgrounds entrance last week. It was the icing on the cake for the immaculate fairgrounds complex that former Phillips County Administrator Randy Schafer had worked so hard on up until his unexpected death March 14.
Some of his projects included the Homesteaders Park water feature, the Phillips County Event Center and, most recently, the Bank of Colorado Pavilion.
Randy’s wife, Joy, said they had originally thought about designating memorial funds for the pavilion project but decided instead to put it toward a fairgrounds sign. Randy had actually started the design concept for the sign before his death.
Joy said the memorial funds were just shy of $10,000, which made up a large chunk of the $14,580 sign approved by Phillips County commissioners.
Additional funds to provide landscaping around the sign are also in the works, said County Administrator Pam Jensen.
She said that anyone wishing to make a memorial contribution in Schafer’s honor can still do so by calling the County administration office at 970-854-3778.
Jensen also reminds residents that fundraising is still underway for the Bank of Colorado Pavilion. Multiple options are available, including the brand wall. Call for more information.