Commissioners sign proclamation for Special Olympics Sept. 19 at LCHS
By Rory Ryan
The Highland County Press
Highland County Board of Commissioners proclaimed Sept. 19 as Special Olympics Day in Highland County during their Wednesday, Aug. 19 board meeting.
Commissioners Shane Wilkin, Jeff Duncan and Tom Horst welcomed representatives from local school districts, Hills and Dales and Highco for the proclamation presentation.
The 2015 Highland County Track and Field Special Olympics will be held Sept. 19 at Lynchburg-Clay High School.
[[In-content Ad]]
According to Nathan Boatman of Highco, 75 to 80 athletes are expected to compete. Boatman thanked local sponsors KFC, Bagshaw Enterprises and Holtfield Station for providing food for the athletes and volunteers.
All Highland County schools and Highco will be represented. More than 300 million athletes from 170 countries participate in Special Olympics each year.
“People with developmental disabilities can learn, enjoy and benefit from participation in team sports,” Wilkin said. “The benefits are for the students and families alike.”
Boatman invited the community to attend this year's Special Olympics and support the competitors.
* * *
• In other business, Baldwin Farms was awarded a bid for the Leesburg Industrial Park cropland. The three-year contract is for $13,500.
Wilkin updated the board again regarding an assistant director for Highland County Job and Family Services to work with retiring director Debbie Robbins. Wilkin said the number of foster children waiting for adoptions is a “challenge and taking a dramatic effect on our budget.”
Commissioners agreed to have a job description for the assistant director finalized by next week.
Angles Mobile Home Service was awarded a bid to repair a roof at the Highland County Dog Pound in the amount of $1,585. Gary Cox was awarded a bid of $2,880 for renovations to the outside dog kennels.
Commissioners Horst thanked Ruth Kowalewsky for a donation for work at the kennel.
“We are very appreciative,” Horst told Ruth, who was in attendance at the Aug. 19 meeting.
Commissioner Duncan said he met with the architects at the Highland County Justice Center, and work on the roof should be complete in another week.
“We’ll be happy to have that completed,” he said.
Work continues at the Hi-TEC Center. The project is under way.
On the Carl Smith/Hobart Drive project, Horst said Careytown Road is now open to the lower entrance to Lowe’s, and progress continues on Hobart Drive.
“They’re moving a lot of dirt on Route 73,” Horst said.
“A lot of credit on this project goes to Highland County Engineer Dean Otworth,” Wilkin said. “He’s put in a lot of work on this project. It’s been a very cooperative project.”
Highland County Auditor Bill Fawley reported the permissive sales tax numbers for August (for June sales) at $543,952.98, up from $519,029.47 from a year ago.