By Staff
Tim Cottrell
Residents of the city of Atmore, and especially football players for Escambia County High School, have to admit its getting better all the time.
Cranes could be seen next to Herbert Barnes Stadium over the past weeks repairing roof damage done to the field house.
Raymond Beasley, Maintenance Director for the Escambia County School System, said that progress was being made.
"All we're working on right now is the storm damage," Beasley said. "It's all the insurance will pay for."
HUB Contractors of Thomasville is doing the repairs for the Escambia County School System.
The stadium light issue is almost resolved as well, according to Beasley.
"We do have a contract (on repairing the stadium lights)," Beasley said. "McKee &Associates was an architecture firm we talked to about it. Work should begin in mid-April. Titan Electric Company of Dora, Ala. will do these repairs."
Beasley had one other thing on his mind.
"We're still looking for money from FEMA (Federal Emergency Management Association), and you can print that." Beasley said. "We've gotten one check from them, and it was only $680."
Newly hired Blue Devil football coach Ted Darby was excited about the changes, and had a few ideas of his own.
"Obviously we've got to get the light poles and field house fixed," Darby said. "The field house also needs some sandblasting and a new paint job. We also need to upgrade our weight equipment."
Darby felt that upgrading facilities would be a big help to his team.
"You play like you look," Darby said. "It's like when you go to church. I'm going to preach pride. I want something the players can take pride in. We need to upgrade these facilities, we need to let the kids take care of it. This is their house. I want them to keep it clean, and take pride in it."
Darby was also realistic about his goals.
"I'll be honest, no team ever went 10-0 because they painted their field house," Darby said. "The most important thing is kids and coaches. Your grass and your field house comes last, and your kids come first. You can fix those up when the kids go home. We're going to have our priorities in order."