Photo by Alison James
Rep. Johnny Mack Morrow presents a check from the Franklin County Development Commission to Coach Richie Hester and his varsity Lady Red Devils – Mary Morgan Clingan, Emma Humphres, Abby Hester, Kaitlyn King and Gracie Raper – for renovation of the gym floor

At Vina High School, basketball season will be punctuated by newness this year – a newly-renovated gymnasium.

“We worked all summer painting this thing, renovating,” Coach Richie Hester said. “We took down the old signs and banners and put new banners up and got them all unified.”

Parents and volunteers helped take every layer off the gym floor until what was left was the crisp, white maple floor of 1962. With the logo freshly painted in the middle of the floor and a shiny epoxy top coat, the new floor is ready for action.

The $14K project was jointly funded by the school system and a grant from the Franklin County Development Commission.

“I wanted to do something with this gym to give them something to be proud of,” Hester said.