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PORT ANGELES – The roadside memorial at the Morse Creek section of highway 101 east of Port Angeles will probably be going away soon. It was put there last year by the family of 19-year-old Brooke Bedinger, who died near there in a motorcycle accident.

Brooke’s mother Kim Johnson Bedinger says the state DOT asked them to remove it by July 1, she says after the DOT received some complaints from residents. But with that bad news for the family came some good news, too. Their request to adopt that section of the highway was approved.

“We found out yesterday and we will be adopting from about the Dollar Store clear to the end of the Wilder lot on both sides. If I have to remove all the little things that people have left there, the little signs and things like that. I’m going to request that we be able to put a sign up in her memory at least because, to me that’s important,” said Bedinger

DOT’s John Wynands explains the policy the state has for roadside memorial.

“The department has some guidelines on roadside memorials as opposed to official policy. Our position is that there is no absolute time that we will allow or not allow a roadside memorial based on the location the size if it’s a hazard to motorists, we will react accordingly and in general terms Memorial generally stays in place for somewhere between 6 and 12 months which time we would like to and what we’re doing with the bedding or family for instance is discuss Alternatives, whether it’s simply removal of the memorial or replacement of the memorial potentially with the roadside signs that you see around. For instance. Please drive safely in memory of Brooke Bedinger and a date,” said Wynands.

The Bedinger family is having a celebration and fundraiser in Brooke’s name to raise money for scholarships coming up on Saturday, June 1 at the Sequim Boys and Girls Club. It will feature a free car show and vendors beginning at 3 pm. There is a benefit concert with a number of local musicians as well as a performance by the  Sequim High School Choir.  Concert tickets are $15 for 18 and up, $10 for kids 6-17, 5 and under are free.

If you’d like to learn more about what it takes to get a memorial highway sign, click here.

PHOTO: Bedinger family at Brooke’s memorial courtesy of Kim Johnson Bedinger.

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