COAL GROVE – One of the last places in the Dawson-Bryant School District that could use a makeover is getting one.

Monday, September 13, 1999

COAL GROVE – One of the last places in the Dawson-Bryant School District that could use a makeover is getting one.

A new track has been put down in place of the old one that circles the football field.

"It is almost finished," Dawson-Bryant athletic director Bryan Mulkey said. "All we have left is to put the lines down. That could wait until spring if it has to, but it would look a whole lot better if we completed it now. At most, the lines should be down in a couple of weeks."

Mulkey said contractors working on the track are experiencing some personal problems that have pushed the schedule back a little.

"Some problems have occurred and the rain we had a couple of weeks ago pushed the schedule back a little," he said.

The Hornets football team has opened on the road the first three weeks of the season and this Saturday’s game with Columbus Ready will serve as a chance for a public unveiling.

"People will get their first look at it this weekend," Mulkey said. "We’re not the richest school district, but we are trying to do what we can to make improvements."

With the old track starting to crumble, it was time for a change.

"We took the old one up and put a new rubberized surface down," Mulkey said. "The old track was just in real bad shape. All the rubber was peeling off and there were a lot of cracks. The new one makes everything look better."

Mulkey said that former superintendent Don Washburn, toward the end of his term, saw that something needed to be done. New superintendent Jim Payne has followed up on the project.

Benefits from a new track extend beyond the school system.

"Our community uses the track quite a bit," Mulkey said. "I know we have a lot of walkers in the community who are eager to get back to exercising."

Mulkey also thinks the track could have a positive effect on the Hornets team.

We have had some good track teams in the past and I hope we will in the future," he said. "It’s going to be nice for the students and maybe it will help get a few more kids out."

Not only will the new track help the track and field program at Dawson-Bryant, Mulkey said it will help the school.

"It makes our football field look better and with a nice new track around it, it makes the whole complex look better."