Take a drive up and down Norris Avenue. Look at the new, brightly painted signs on Santa Claus Lane. Then take out your pen and paper and write a thank you note to Debbon McConnell.

It was this young woman who, free of charge, took on the task of painting signs to take the place of the old, worn Santa Lane scenes, some of which had been in use for more than half a century.

"It took hundreds and hundreds of hours to paint the new signs, but I loved it," Debbon said. "I started in February. Since I wasn't working at the time, I spent time making the signs both days and evenings." But that changed in May. "I joined the staff at Lifetime Eye Care, and since that time most of my sign work was done on weekends."

Debbon completely recreated the scenes, which were originally painted by W.K. Swanson, a noted McCook signmaker, in late 1940s and early 1950s. Santa Claus Lane became an instant sensation, and parents brought children from miles around to view the scenic and sentimental Christmas scenes.

Through the years, the signs fell into disrepair, but in the 1970s and early 1980s Norma Rose Strunk came to the rescue, donating her time, talents and money to restore the signs. After Norma passed away in 1987, her family established a fund to assist with the upkeep and improvement of Santa Claus Lane.

It was the Norma Strunk Memorial Fund that paid for the materials and paint for Debbon's renovation project. But all the labor -- extending from February through November -- was donated by Debbon.

"This town has given us so much," said Debbon, whose maiden name is Fahnholz. "David and I both grew up here. After David and I spent 11 years moving around in the Air Force, we came back to raise our family." There have been sacrifices, including time spent by David with the Army Reserves in Iraq, but Debbon says it's finally good to be home.

Their boys, Evan and Coltan, are now 15 and 13. It was Coltan, the younger of the brothers, who sent shivers of emotion through Debbon's body.

"Just think, Mom," he said. "Years from now I can tell my children that their Grandma is who painted these signs."

"It brought tears to my eyes," Debbon said, "but it also got me to thinking about how lucky we are to live in McCook. It's a great place with great people."

In her first year of work on Santa Claus Lane, Debbon re-made 27 signs, including the Teddy Bear, the Tin Soldier, the Little City of Bethlehem, Jack Frost, the Smiling Snowman, the Little Candles and the big sign welcoming visitors to Santa Claus Lane.

Debbon has 16 more signs to do. She will get started again in February and hopes to be finished before the 2008 Christmas season rolls around.

"I owe a lot to my McCook art teachers," she said. "Steve Clapp, Jim Steinke and Don Dernovich all inspired me."

It's like that in small towns. People -- teaching, sharing and working together -- can make a tremendous difference. Debbon McConnell is proof. Using the lessons she learned in her hometown, Debbon has made this a brighter Christmas with her artistic talent and dedicated volunteer efforts.