Published: December 02, 2008 10:34 am            

Keeping the tradition

Butch Hott, Democrat Columnist

Killing time while watching the game ... I applaud the Weatherford ISD board for their decision to make much needed upgrades to Kangaroo Stadium. Yes we have an old stadium that is not up to the standards most schools our size play games on. Yes it is small and cramped and the aluminum seats are not the most comfortable. The grass seems to be worn out by about the sixth game of the year and I am sure the soil is as worn out as the stadium.

The great thing about Kangaroo stadium is it is located in a prime area of town where most people can easily find it on game night. This will become more important as we continue to grow and eventually have a second high school that will need to play games also. It simply makes sense to me that we have one field where both teams will be able to play. Whether game night is Thursday, Friday or Saturday, one stadium makes better fiscal sense to taxpayers than building a new stadium now by the current high school and another latter on beside a new campus.

While our football tradition is not as stellar as some communities in our vicinity, we still have great memories haunting Kangaroo Stadium. It would be a shame to raze that old place simply because we think we need to keep up with the Aledo’s and everyone else that has built huge and costly stadiums that benefit a limited segment of the student body.

Our board decided we could make improvements to the existing place and still have a facility we can be proud of. The traditions of the old can be upheld while players, band members, dance squads and other cities can utilize the new and improved Kangaroo Stadium.

I am one of the citizens and tax payers who appreciate the fact we will have something new in an old part of town. Kind of like the improvements being made to the square. Sometimes a facelift is all that is needed to attract more activity.

In the Real World we sometimes forget that old things can be made useful and we can retain some of what has been lost in the growth of our community.

The Weatherford ISD board liked it hott because they stood up for us by not spending an excessive amount of money on a multi-million dollar new facility. Thanks to all of you who took that bold stance.

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Butch Hott is a guest columnist. He can be reached at butch_hott@excite.com. Columns submitted to The Weatherford Democrat by guest writers reflect the opinions of the writer and in no way reflect the beliefs or opinions of The Weatherford Democrat.

        

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