Scouting didn’t take a vacation during the Covid pandemic. A Scout from the Harper troop completed all the requirements for the highest rank, Eagle Scout. It's the big sign out front, with the Smokey Bear fire danger gauge. But the cache is not on the sign.
Each candidate for Eagle must complete a special project benefitting the community. The project is given to some non-profit beneficiary outside the Scout troop. The project usually involves a team of volunteers, scouts, even professional help. Such as automotive painters. This sign was such a project, replacing a previous wooden sign, and adding a depiction of Smokey Bear for the fire danger gauge. And it was accomplished during pandemic precautions.
2020 isn’t over yet, so here’s the numbers for 2019. It was a record year for Eagle Scouts, 61,353. That’s 61,353 Eagle Scout service projects, 61,353 trained leaders and 61,353 more-prepared citizens.
The over 61 thousand Scouts reported 8,575,780 hours of work. Communities across the country and around the world benefit from these efforts and the teamwork, leadership, and altruism fostered by youth organizations such as Scouts BSA.
https://blog.scoutingmagazine.org/2020/02/24/eagle-scout-class-of-2019-the-numbers-behind-the-largest-eagle-class-ever/
Visit the Fire Department, admire the sign, and find the cache for the smiley. And practice fire safety! A couple of experienced cachers DNFd this, so I'm officially declaring it EVIL! Here's another hint: [Mag]
Be mindful of emergency vehicles exiting in a hurry! Also, the last two times I was there I encountered members of the department. Rural communities are suspicious of strangers. Nevertheless, Cache is placed with permission of the officers of the HVFD, and tended by Scouts BSA members.
Walk about 20 feet north from the cache and admire the tables under the pavilion. Other Eagle Projects in Harper include picnic tables and landscaping at the Library, and several features around the school including the model windmill and the rock garden Texas flag.