Nevada County Picayune and Gurdon Times Newspaper Archive

Fields Planned At Complex

BY RICKY RAGSDALE

Prescott Parks Department Director George Odom told City Council members at its regular meeting Monday, January 17, of two fields to be added to the James Johnson Sports Complex.

The complex was completed in about 1990 with one high school baseball field, a Little League baseball field, two press boxes and a concession/restroom facility.

Odom presented members of the council drawings of a softball and baseball field that have been in the works for several months.

The new softball field will be located at the far back corner of the complex in order to access the facilities from the Prescott High School (PHS) gym and parking lot.

This would, according to Odom, also allow future use of the restroom and concession facilities at the PHS football field.

In addition, Odom said outfield fences will be at 225-feet, allowing to be used by both slow and fast pitch softball.

Arkansas Activities Association (AAA), which governs high school athletics, set field lengths from 185-feet to 235-feet for fast pitch softball. Slow pitch softball fences are required to be at least 225-feet.

AAA only allows women to compete in inter-school softball conferences.

According to the original plans of the complex, the softball field will be located at the original location planned for a public swimming pool.

In addition, the location of the field will require the removal of two large trees in the area.

A new Little League regulation field will be located at the property at the far end of the complex. This will allow for parking between the two baseball fields.

Odom also told council members that work will continue in the McRae Park area on West Fifth Street.

The old baseball field at McRae's park has been converted to a men's softball field. Odom said restrooms will be next on the list and remodeling of the concession area.

The difference between and softball field and baseball field not only includes fence lengths, but a softball field does not have grass in the infield and the pitcher's mound is level with the playing field.

PHS, as most high schools across the state, has gone to women's fast pitch softball in order that they can compete for college scholarships. Colleges do not play slow pitch on a conference level.

Council members approved a resolution to enter into an interlocal agreement with Nevada County to pay half of Criminal Investigator Wayne Kisselburg's salary for six months. At that time, the city police will perform its own CID duties.

While the contract calls for half of Kisselburg's salary to be paid, the city does not pay half the vehicle expense.

Prescott Mayor Howard Taylor was questioned about the city's dog problems.

He told council members that he and Prescott Police Chief Sam Reeder were working on part of the problem, but he would appoint three council members to a committee.

Taylor told the council they (he and Reeder) would work on the problem and the council would know by the February meeting.

Taylor reported to council members about the traffic light pole at the corner of West Main and West First Street. The pole was struck by an over-wide, over-length and unescorted load on January 5 as it made a left turn onto Highway 67.

He said it would be about 26 weeks before a new pole would arrive, though Cox Welding had assisted city crews in securing the pole on Saturday, January 15.

Taylor told the council that the city was currently taking bids on vehicles that had been approved in the city's budget for 2000.