The Milan News-Leader
A Heritage Newspaper
Weekly Publication
Athletics complex project advancing
By Brian Cox, Staff Writer
PUBLISHED: April 5, 2007
The first few responses to 3,800 letters sent to Milan High School alumni requesting their support of a bold project to transform the school's athletic fields have started trickling in.
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It's one sign among many that the Milan High School Athletics Complex Capital Campaign is gaining traction, said Roberta Myyra, who is heading up the effort.
Another sign is the eagerly anticipated new home-side bleachers at the football field, which were made possible through an anonymous donation of $270,000 and are expected to be installed in the coming weeks.
The capital campaign hopes to raise about $100,000.
The vision is vast: new soccer fields, a refurbished track, a brick-paved drive, a concessions building near the football and baseball fields complete with restrooms and team rooms and an entrance gate with brick pillars. Central to the complex will be a memorial to Marine Cpl. Gary Koehler, a former Milan football player who was killed last year in Iraq.
Volunteers have started preparing the fields for the new bleachers and offered their skills and labor.
"I've had a lot of response," Myyra said. "Mark Zawacki stopped me in the supermarket and said he would do the plumbing, for example."
Other examples include Tony Gotts, who is excavating the site in preparation of the bleachers, and Jim Wessel and Joe Iott, who plan to do the wiring.
Myyra is the impetus behind the creation of the Milan High School Development Office, which will oversee and coordinate a range of fund-raising efforts designed to raise the needed $100,000.
Some of the money raised at existing fund-raisers such as the Jenyk-Joplin Golf Outing and the Cash Bash will be put toward the athletic complex renovation, but other fund-raisers are planned.
One of the first is the Opening Day 5K Run/Walk May 5 in conjunction with Discover Milan Day May 5. The race will begin at 7:50 a.m. in front of the Milan Senior and Community Activities Center on Neckel Court and end in Wilson Park. A Rotary Club pancake breakfast will be available after the race. Racers and walkers are expected to be finished in time for the Milan Youth League Opening Day Parade.
The entry fee is $20. For entry forms or more information, visit the Web site www.milan5k.com or contact Myyra at 439-5056 or myyra@milan.k12.mi.us.
An alumni luncheon is planned for next month.
The campaign, said Myyra, is just getting its steam up.
"We have a long way to go," she said. "It's going to take us a couple years, I think. But that's OK. It will be fun."
Staff Writer Brian Cox can be reached at 429-7380 or bcox@heritage.com.
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