Gym project set to crank up

The large crowd of Colfax and Liberty basketball fans at Thursday night's local season finale also marked the last big public show for the CHS gymnasium which is the final big ticket item on the two-year construction project for Colfax schools.

District Supt. Jerry Pugh said the gym will remain open for practices during the basketball playoff season and for junior high volleyball season before the area turns into construction mode which will last most of the summer.

New lighting, scoreboards, bleachers, glass wall installations along the mezzanine are among items on the rehab list for the gym.

Pugh said one of the safety measures to be introduced will be a reduction of the end bleachers in the gym to three rows. The aim will be to eliminate the practice of fans now pushing the end bleachers partially back and creating a high potential fall space.

Another item on the list is reinforcing one mezzanine floor to accommodate a return of the weight training area.

Both locker rooms are also scheduled to be completely refurbished. Pugh stressed the overall school's rehab project is on time and within budget under the $18.9 million bond funding proposal approved by voters two years ago.

Pugh stressed the two-year special levy proposal on the ballot now is sought to replace educational programs and operations which have been funded by prior levies now expiring. They are not linked to the construction program.

District voters have been asked to approve a special levy of $900,000 for 2021 and for 2022.