Yesterday I posted a brief remembrance of Ron Weigleb, who died on Saturday.
R.I.P. - Ron Weigleb, former Floyd Central football coach.
In the posting, I mentioned that the NAFC school board voted last week to name Floyd Central’s football stadium Weigleb Stadium in honor of the coach, a decision that came just in the nick of time, and also that two board members voted against the naming. This prompted reader TS to express curiosity as to their reasoning.
Normally I would have provided a link to Tribune coverage of the story. I didn't do this yesterday for the simple reason that the newspaper’s on-line version of Tara Hettinger article omitted the last paragraphs.
I was too lazy yesterday to key in the excised section (I'm an agitator, not a steno), and what's more, I was chagrined at being unable to come up with a clever way to link opposition to Weigleb Stadium to the Linden Meadows project and Resources for Results.
Ah, but today’s a new day, and I’m full of energy this morning, so in answer to reader TS’s query, here’s the link to the original story as well as the final section, with the previously omitted paragraphs in italics.
Note that nothing in this should be construed as "personal" on my part. I know neither of them personally. However, the two school board members were elected to their positions, and decisions like this one certainly apply to their future electoral aspirations. It's a part of the record, and worth remembering.
Note also that the notion of the school system instituting random drug testing is deeply troubling, but grist for another day.
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New Albany-Floyd County board to consider random student drug testing, by Tara Hettinger (News and Tribune).
WEIGLEB STADIUM
Floyd Central High School’s football stadium is officially named Weigleb Stadium after the board voted 5-2 to approve the naming.
Ron Weigleb coached in the corporation for more than 20 years, board members said. He worked with track and football, according to board members.
Weigleb suffers from terminal cancer that is inoperable, according to Phillip Lockhart, who addressed the board Tuesday night.
That night, Lockhart presented the board with a petition showing support to name the facility after Weigleb. He said the board would only have to approve the naming and that donations would pay for the additional signage to the facility.
The board debated whether they should approve the move, especially since the football field is named Scott Field, after the last county superintendent.
“I want to honor him, but I want to be careful not to dishonor the Scott family, said Lee Ann Wiseheart, board member.
“I would like to see Mr. Weigleb honored in some other way, but to keep the Scott family honored, said Rebecca Gardenour, board vice president.
The two board members voiced concerns that the field and stadium are one of the same.
Neil Smith, board president, said he felt that a field and stadium are two different things.
Jim Zoeller, board member, said the issue is null and void since the field is completely new.
“It’s not even there anymore. It’s a parking lot,” Zoeller said of Scott Field.
Wiseheart said she did not feel comfortable voting on an issue in a board work session, so Brooks called an attorney to get the OK. Once that was done, the board voted to amend the agenda then voted on the naming. Wiseheart and Gardenour were the two no votes.
I cannot fathom that anyone could have voted against this. This is a new stadium named in memory/honor by the people of a school still grieving over the loss of a beloved coach. I am sure that the Scott family would understand and if there is a desire to honor Mr. Scott there are certainly other ways.
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