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Irrigation woes plague new field
0614 Donell woods stadium
Despite ongoing issues with irrigation, the LCHS Panthers were able to play in Donell Woods Stadium last season. - photo by Courier file photo
The board of education is still paying for the construction of Libert County High School’s Donell Woods Stadium and they passed a motion Tuesday to accept a $328,658 bid from Titan Golf Services to correct irrigation issues that have left the field saturated and soggy.
Not all of the board members, however, agreed that the BoE should be responsible for forking over funds for the construction project that started in late 2006. The board passed the motion with a four to three vote —  Becky Carter, Marcia Anderson and Carol Guyette all against the motion.
“I just don’t think we should be spending this money,” Carter said. “The people who created this mess should be cleaning it up.”
Ellis Wood Contracting, the original contractors for the project, will be kicking in a $51,379 chunk of the bid, leaving the BoE with a $277,279 balance to cover.
“They’re (Ellis Wood Contracting) paying because there were certain parts of the work they did that did not meet the specifications,” Superintendent Dr. Judy Scherer said.
She said the BoE has also asked the architecture firm, Buckley and Associates, to help cover some of the costs as the board believes the problems are partially due to architectural errors.
“They were part of a general discussion. Yes, we have talked with them about coming to the table as well, but we’ve haven’t gotten a response,” she said.
Buckley and Associates did not return a call from the Courier by press time.
The board members in favor of the motion said they just want to fix the problem as soon as possible and put the project behind them.
“There’s a real danger with it the way it stands,” Chairwoman Lily Baker said.
According to Roger Osborne, director of maintenance and operations for LCSS, Titan Services will be responsible for removing the current saturated soil, installing a new irrigation system and re-sodding the field.
“We’re going to remove 10 inches of soil from the football field, four inches from the rest of the area, eight inches in a few places, and then replace it with an engineered soil,” Osborne said. “They will also put in a new irrigation system and under drain.”
Osborne hopes to complete the final step, of placing new rolled sod and fertilizers, by mid-July.
“I feel very confident. I think it will be a field for the system and the community to be proud of,” Osborne said.
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BI hosts LCSS Gala
LibertyCountySchools

Bradwell Institute’s Friends Helping Friends will host the 3rdAnnual Liberty County School System Special Needs Gala Saturday at 7p.m.

The dance portion of the gala is free and open to the public.

FHF was started three years ago by BI special needs teacher Charlie Moon. FHF is comprised of a large group of general education students that connect special needs students with their general education peers. They have raised $20,000 in the last 30 months, for events like this, a new sensory room, music therapy equipment, and many other fun events. 

“FHF does so much for the special needs students. It really brings them out in their social skills. They become so much more comfortable around us all,” FHF Junior Danielle Hennessee said. 

FHF Junior Jada Naftzinger said it’s a two-way street. “It not only helps them, but us as well. It brings us out of our own shells and comfort zones.” 

Moon added, “For us, the Gala is not our calling card. I’ve told the students from day one, unless they truly know these special needs students, we won’t do the Gala at all. We’ll throw a big pizza party instead. The point is, we want the kids to really focus on the one-on-one, in-class work, hanging out in the halls, really talking to them. That’s the only way this program truly reaches its potential. Our motto is, “Changing lives, one friend at a time.”

During a private dinner which precedes the public dance, district office personnel, representatives from Congressman Buddy Carter’s office, district SPED staff, BI Football players and FHF members, parents and the honored guests – 50 special needs students from around the district will be in attendance.

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