|
Officials at the Ground Breaking ceremony for the new Martinsville High School are pictured (l to r) State Representative Roger Eddy, State Senator Dale Righter, school architect Scott Johnson, Clark County Board Chairman John Hammond, High School Principal Ray Schollenbruch, Elementary Principal Victoria Norton, board member Bill Lowry, Student Council President Jared Higginbotham, MEA President Julie Higginbotham, Superintendent of Schools Jill Rogers, and board members Randy Davison, Terry Perisho, Gene Kannmacher, Linda Von Behren, Doug Dahnke, and Larry Norton. Photo by Jessica Duzan
Martinsville ground breaking ceremony celebrates new construction  Share
Shovels and hard hats dotted the lawn as educators, parents, students and community members gathered at 2:30 p.m. on Monday, August 24, to celebrate the ground breaking for the new wing of the Martinsville High School. The new building will replace the 1922 wing that was damaged by ''an act of God'' that included water damage and high winds. In July of 2008, Clark County was declared a ''disaster area'' by the governor. This allowed Martinsville school district to apply for and secure a FEMA grant for $11.4 million. Martinsville High School Principal Ray Schollenbruch, called the construction ''a new home for education in Martinsville.'' Larry Norton, president of the Board of Education, thanked the members of the building committee, Architect Scott Johnson for completing a thorough and detailed bid package, and the late Gale Davidson, who was instrumental in getting school started last year. School Superintendent Jill Rogers asked, ''How did we get here? We got here with courage, teamwork, determination and a little help from our friends,'' and said that FEMA and Illinois Emergency Management Agency were instrumental and they were ''hard working people out in the field, wading through the muck to help people.'' Other speakers included State Rep. Roger Eddy, R-Hutsonville, and State Sen. Dale Righter, R-Mattoon, who sponsored legislation that enabled the district to issue bonds to help cover the costs of the construction.
The graduating class of 1960 was the last class to play in the old gym before the 1961 wing was built, community member Fred Clement stated. Fellow classmates Ed Buckner and Mary Jane Cunningham were also in attendance. The Martinsville school song, ''Onward Bluestreaks, Onward Bluestreaks'' rang out as the student body released blue and white balloons, symbolizing the continuing school spirit and confirmation that Martinsville will rebuild their school with the date of completion slated for December of 2010. Jessica Duzan is a staff reporter for the Casey Reporter.
|
This Week's Front Page »
Related Stories »
|
