• 50°
franklin county times

Parents want supervisors to lease sports complex

By By Sheila Blackmon/The Meridian Star
July 29, 2001
A group of parents in the West Lauderdale community wants Lauderdale County supervisors to lease land for a baseball and softball complex where they plan to build eight fields.
District 3 Supervisor Craig Hitt said the property is located on Highway 495 next to West Lauderdale Elementary School. It is 16th Section land governed by the Lauderdale County school board.
The school board is obtaining a property appraisal, which could be used to determine the annual lease fee, Hitt said. He said he believes supervisors will approve the lease, which will give them authority to provide dirt, gravel and maintenance.
Supervisors began leasing land for sports associations a couple of years ago, he said.
Though Hitt does not serve the West Lauderdale baseball and softball associations, his daughters play softball with the league.
The girls play at Richard May Park, located next to West Lauderdale High School. Hitt said the county's long-term lease with the Lauderdale County school board to use the school's field runs out in the next couple of years, but the problem now is space.
Renee Covert has two daughters in the West Lauderdale Community Softball Association. Her oldest, 12, has been playing for seven years.
Charlie Turner is the West Lauderdale Baseball Association president and is a board member for the softball association. He has a son and daughter who play.
Turner said many parents have children who play at different ball parks. Some have as much as a 15-mile drive between parks.
If they get the lease, he said the associations will raise funds and apply for grants to build a facility to accommodate the more than 600 children in the area.
He said the new sports complex would draw children not currently involved in the programs and could also draw outside tournaments.
Sheila Blackmon is a staff writer for The Meridian Star. Call her at 693-1551, ext. 3275, or e-mail her at sblackmon@themeridianstar.com.

News

Phil Campbell City Council considers bids

News

Red Bay celebrates Arbor Day by remembering longtime Garden Club member

Franklin County

Strong winds cause damage, outages in Russellville

Franklin County

FCBOE approves school calendar, bids, personnel matters

News

RCS BOE approves bids for new high school sign, RES playground equipment

Franklin County

Kicks for Kids gets Philanthropic Activity of Year nomination

News

Russellville approves Sloss Lake stage construction

Franklin County

John Blackwell: Ballfield complex commemorates former teacher, mayor

Franklin County

Documentary participation fails for lack of consensus

News

Miss RHS Pageant names winners in numerous categories

Franklin County

County hears broadband feasibility study

Franklin County

Red Bay considers amending animal ordinance

Features

A vision for Russellville: Downtown Collective forms, Aspiring to next level for city

Galleries

41st Annual Miss RHS Pageant takes stage March 3

Franklin County

Franklin County students compete in annual cook-off

News

Chucky Mullins committee plans golf, youth sports, remembrance events

Franklin County

Ralph Bishop: Rec center name emphasizes former mayor’s commitment to community

Franklin County

Lack of buy-in quells documentary participation

News

Gusts shatter library window

Franklin County

Forestry commission gives out free trees March 2-3

News

RB council works toward new garbage collection system

Franklin County

Tharptown senior signs with Army

Franklin County

BTCPA to host auditions for final show of season

News

REB renews line of credit, reports on blackout

x