To the editor

I am writing this letter to the people of Polk County for help.

The track at Polk County High, which is used by many in the community, is in dire need of repairs. The track itself has sustained water and mud damage from the winter storms before Christmas this winter.

I have contacted a track repair company in Knoxville, Tenn. Their appraisal is that it will cost over $8,100 to repair just the track.

In addition, we sustained wind damage to our high jump pit, our pole vault pit and the fencing around the track. The fencing can wait to be repaired; however, the other areas demand immediate attention. My estimate is that the total damage here is in excess of $4,000. There is also damage to other athletic facilities that include both the baseball and softball venues.

At this time it is not known what monetary damage they have sustained. Suffice it to say it is in the thousands.

We have an insurance that gives us some coverage; however, there is a minimum $5,000 deductible. I have procured both the 2A and the 3A Regionals to be contested here in May 2011. These teams, nearly 50 of them, will travel from as far away as Franklin, Hickory, Shelby, Gastonia and several other towns and cities. These people will spend money in Polk County. The two regionals will bring, for two consecutive Saturdays, nearly 600 runners and hundreds of their supporters. Each Regional weekend should bring nearly 1,000 people into the county.

These events are in addition to the meets that we will host on March 4 and 18. These two Friday nights will bring in a total of nearly a 1,000 people. When these meets are over, and sometimes during the competition, I send many bus loads to McDonalds, Burger King, Wendy’s, Subway, etc. In addition, some of these people purchase gas and groceries in our local retail locations. These are obvious boons to our economy.

On April 16, we will host the Times-News Invitational, which will last all day long and again bring in between 600 and 1,000 runners and parents.

We will soon be hosting a spaghetti dinner as a fundraiser. Coach Peoples’s 100 Mile Run-a-Thon to raise funds is also in progress: I have completed more than 40 miles so far. All funds will be used for the Middle School and the High School track programs.

Polk County Track and Field needs your help. Please consider sending a tax deductable check to PCHS-Track Repair; 1681 East Highway 108; Columbus, NC 28722.

Alan Peoples