It's a Real Good Time...

I must apologize for not writing a column last week but I was not feeling very well at all. Oh, I tried to come up with something but sitting at the computer just wasn’t working for me. Lying down and resting seemed to be something that I really needed, so that won out. I really did think about writing something but then it got a little blurry and I felt that anything I might have written probably wouldn’t have made a lot of sense so I shut myself down and I’m glad I did.

I have a lot of things that I could write about, but since spring is officially here, I would like to revisit a project that has been going on for about six years now. Project 56 has been raising money and making plans to see what we need to make an all-weather track a reality.

I will admit that there have been several setbacks from a recession to high oil prices. The recession has made people think twice when it comes to donating to this project. High oil prices are never good, especially when asphalt is a big part of what makes up the all-weather track.

I’ve heard from a lot of people who tell me they enjoy reading this column. Honestly, I enjoy writing this column especially when there is good subject matter. This is a good subject because there are a lot of believers and people who are working hard making phone calls and getting the proverbial ball rolling.

We have some good ideas and are looking into and applying for grant money. We know that there needs to be outside sources to raise big money and this committee is looking into all avenues of funding sources. One thing we do know is that if we could get local citizens, businesses, alumni and families to simply buy a meter for $100 there would be enough money to get the project underway. We do need to get all eight lanes of the 400-meter track purchased however.

I know that means that a lot of meters would need to be purchased but we can get this thing going one meter at a time, right? Of course, I’m right!

For those of you who attended Ritzville High years ago and played sports here, you no doubt were able to participate in athletics with great support and the facilities were always top notch. But in 2012, no high school teams want to go to a track meet on a cinder track, so this year there will be no track meets in Ritzville.

That means no Undeberg Invitational or league meets. None, nada, zippo!

The community that may have the best location for big invitational track meets is in need of an all-weather track so that we can get those teams and parents to come here instead of going to Colfax, Connell, Ephrata, Moses Lake, Spokane or Medical Lake.

There are some great volunteers in Ritzville, Lind and Sprague who would be excited about helping out at a big meet right here at Jimmie Snider Field. All we need is that all-weather track to make that happen.

I’ve heard from a few people that said they would make a donation as soon as another person donated. Really? Doesn’t that give everyone an excuse not to donate?

I look at it like, so many people did great things before I was an athlete at this school and I appreciate it a lot and now it’s time for all of us to give a little bit back for all of those memories we carry inside us.

I know that a lot of people try to give something back to the college they attended with the thought that the college is where they earned their greatness. I’ve always felt that the local school was where I was able to play sports and belong to organizations that helped shape me forever. I didn’t get that at college. That’s why I’m challenging all of the readers of this column to purchase a meter for $100 and if you decide to give a little bit more than that it would certainly be appreciated.

By the way, you can make your checks payable to Project 56 c/o Kris Harder, 219 West Main, Ritzville, WA 99169. After all, it is a real good time to make this happen.