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School to help with High Knob effort
By: KEITH STRANGE / Staff Writer, Coalfield Progress
September 9, 2008 |
Buying your snacks at a Friday
night football game at J.I. Burton High School
this year could soon mean more money to rebuild
the High Knob observation tower.
Norton school officials said yesterday that they
intend to place containers at the concession
stands at home games at the high school so members
of the crowd can donate their change after making
purchases.
Schools Superintendent Lee Brannon said the fundraising
effort is a wonderful opportunity to teach the
city’s schoolchildren the value of community
service.
“We try to instill community service in
the kids’ hearts during their school years,
so this goes hand in hand with that effort,” he
said.
Brannon said that while the details haven’t
been worked out, several ideas are floating around
campus — including involving three
service organizations at the school.
The superintendent said he would like to see
Burton’s Beta Club, Junior Beta Club and
the Future Business Leaders of America involved.
“The clubs still haven’t had their
first meeting yet, so all the details aren’t
worked out, but we’re hoping they will
start collecting money after their first meeting,” he
said.
But when you go to Friday’s game against
Powell Valley, expect to make a donation at the
concession stand, he said.
Brannon lauded the tower as an important part
of Wise County’s history.
“It’s such an historic landmark,” he
said. “Obviously people have some very
fond memories of their time there, so anything
we can do as a service project from the school’s
perspective, we certainly want to do.”
HOPING OTHERS FOLLOW SUIT
Rita McReynolds, the chair of the High Knob fundraising
committee, applauded the effort.
“We’re so glad the schools are starting
to get on board,” she said.
But she said she hopes more organizations get
involved.
“We would like to challenge all organizations
throughout the region to take ownership of the
effort to rebuild the tower,” she said. “Efforts
like those demonstrated by the Norton schools
will ensure it is rebuilt.”
McReynolds said she hopes Norton’s move
will result in an outpouring of school spirit
in the county.
“Schools are a part of our community and
have certainly demonstrated community spirit,
so we hope they can harness that spirit and help
us get the tower built,” she said. “We
know that with all the schools on board we can
do anything.”
EVERYTHING IN PLACE
Ninth District U.S. Rep. Rick Boucher was in
town Friday to take part in a ceremonial signing
of a memorandum of understanding between the
newly-formed High Knob Enhancement Corp. and
the U.S. Forest Service.
Because the tower is located in the Jefferson
National Forest, the federal agency oversees
the property.
The document delineates the responsibilities
of the two groups.
According to the understanding, the forest service
will provide staff support and serve as the effort’s
fiscal agent, while fundraising and planning
responsibilities will go to the enhancement corporation.
Boucher said progress is moving ahead, and the
forest service should complete its environmental
impact study this month.
“With the continuation of the kind of efforts
we’ve seen, I’m absolutely confident
that this tower can be rebuilt better than before,” he
said.
KEEP THE MONEY COMING
Boucher noted that it will take everyone’s
effort to get the job done.
He pointed to a $25 check received by High Knob
Enhancement Corp. chairman Lu Ellsworth.
Ellsworth told the assembled dignitaries Friday
that on his way to the event he stopped by the
post office and found a check sent in by Lester
and Mary Prince.
“These people heard that we’re needing
individual contributions and they wanted to help,” he
said.
Boucher said that’s how the dream will
become a reality.
“Those $25 checks are going to be the way
this tower gets rebuilt,” he said.
• Donations to the High Knob tower rebuilding
effort can be sent to:
High Knob Enhancement Corp.,
P.O. Box 125,
16542 Russell St.,
St. Paul, Va. 24283 |
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