Today's Feature

Fairgrounds Proposal.

The Public Services Committee on Monday evening agreed to forward to City Council a proposal for new construction and improvements to the Jasper County Youth Fairgrounds. During the recent ice storms, one of the buildings used during the fair was damaged and had to be taken down. The Fair Board has drafted a proposal for the building of a replacement building as well as new construction extending some of the current buildings to allow for more space and more entries in the fair.

Fair Board President Tom Howard was present at the meeting to ask for committee and Council approval. Howard brought with him a large overhead photograph of the fair grounds prior to the loss of the building, and an overlay illustrating where the proposed buildings would be constructed.

Buildings to be constructed in the proposal include a 140’ by 140’ beef barn and show ring and a 150’ by 80’ multipurpose building including seating for 150 people. The construction of the multipurpose building would be situated on an area used for practice fields. Additionally, one of the buildings currently used at the fairgrounds is to be extended to 220’ by 60’ in the proposal. Howard noted that the entire project at this point is projected to cost $950,000, adding that it could always be scaled back if the funding does not become available.

These additions would be beneficial to the fair, according to Howard, because space is limited each year and there are more people wishing to enter.

"The numbers keep growing every year," said Howard.

Howard said that if Council would approve the proposal, the board would seek funding for the projects through grants and foundations, with the possibility of using money from the insurance claim on the demolished building.

The committee raised several questions about the proposal. Current sewer capacity was an item mentioned that may need improvement, as well as the problems created by eliminating a practice field. However, the committee was favorable of the concept overall and agreed to forward the item to Council with a recommendation for approval. If approved, each project would still need approval from the City before construction could begin. The next Council meeting will be held Tuesday, March 13.

Typically throughout the day or two of the search, the rookie would inquire of some worker if he knew where these particular tools were kept. The old hands would act as if they were well aware of the usefulness of these figments of the imagination, but would suggest a shed to look or another worker that used the contraptions a day or two earlier.

Eventually someone would tire, (usually the boss) and let the rookie in on the hoax. The savvy rookie would turn the joke around and continue to question the old hands, irritating them as much as possible. The first step toward bein’ an old hand.

This is some fact, but mostly,

Just Jake Talkin’.

Here's A Tip
By JoAnn Derson

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