Parks And Rec

The Winchester-Clark County Parks and Recreation Department's Haunted Swamp event more than tripled its attendance after only one year. In 2011, about 120 people went through the haunted house and swamp at the College Park Gym. This year, Parks and Recreation Director Jeff Lewis estimates about 400 people attended the event Friday and Saturday. “It was fabulous, way better than I ever expected,” Lewis said. He attributes the increase to additional elements, including an expanded haunted house and a fall festival in the College Park Gym. The festival included games, candy, inflatables, and free popcorn and cider.

Last year's Winchester-Clark County Parks and Recreation Department's summer day camp was a big success with more than 60 children showing up each day. When this year's camp opened Monday, parks officials thought there would be some increase in attendance - and they were right. A record 134 “very excited” kids showed up at College Park ready for a fun filled summer, Parks Board Chairman Charlie Eury said Monday. “We had 166 pre-register, but we had way more than we anticipated show up this morning,” Eury said at the board meeting.

The Winchester-Clark County Parks and Recreation Board appointed its budget preparation committee during its monthly meeting Monday at College Park Gym. The committee, comprised of board chairman Charlie Eury, along with board members Bob Jackson, Ramsey Flynn and Dwain Gay, will put together a tentative operating and programming budget that will be presented to board members next month. Jackson will chair the committee. In moving forward, the board will begin advertising for a permanent aquatics and programming director, a post currently held on a temporary basis by Michelle Franzetti.

The Winchester-Clark County Parks and Recreation Board kept its chairman in place and elected a new vice chairman during its monthly meeting Monday night at the Winchester-Clark County Health and Wellness Center. Charlie Eury was chosen to remain in his current role as chairman of the board, while Ramsey Flynn was selected to serve as vice chairman. B.J. Wasson remained in his role as secretary-treasurer. Flynn replaces Bob Jackson as vice chairman. “(Flynn) has really gotten involved, which is good,” Eury said.

Zumba devotees swear there’s no better way to get in a good workout. Dancing around with friends for an hour to fast-paced Latin beats doesn’t really feel much like exercise for the approximately two dozen women in Dee Miller’s class at the new Parks and Recreation Health and Wellness Center. “The time flies by,” Miller said. “At the end of an hour, you’re totally worn out, but it’s fun.” Miller has been teaching Zumba in Clark County for four months and led her first class at the Health and Wellness Center, formerly known as College Park Gym, last week.

To the editor: The teams of the Winchester-Clark County Parks and Recreation men’s softball program would like to say thank you to Geri Remley and her staff for another great year of softball. The past two years there have been changes and improvements that made this the best league around. We look forward to the seasons to come and to see what the future holds for the softball program. Thanks again, Geri to you and your staff, for all your hard work and dedication to the softball program.

The Lincoln County Parks and Recreation Board meets every third Wednesday of the month at 6 p.m. at the Lincoln County Courthouse, Crab Orchard Springs conference room. The next meeting will be Nov. 15. The Board of Directors consists of Jason Todd, chairman; Rodney Munford, vice chairman; Vance Mitchell, secretary; Julie Lair, Mike Robbins, Lewis Cummins, Jimmy Dyehouse, Mack Dunn, Benny Day, Roger Bell, Jeff Ruckel, and Beth Ralston, Parks Director. If you wish to attend a meeting with any concerns, contact Beth Ralston 24 hours prior to the regularly scheduled meeting to be put on the agenda.

Right Angle Lodge to meet Saturday Right Angle Lodge, No. 233, F. & A.M., will meet Saturday at 7:30 p.m. Officers for the ensuing year will be elected. Refreshments will be served and all Masons are welcome. For more information, call Robert T. Jones, secretary, at 744-4745. Parks and Rec offers step aerobics classes Step aerobics classes are being offered at the College Park Library from Jan. 12, through Feb. 4 on Tuesday and Thursday mornings from 9:30 to 10:45.

The Parks and Recreation board amended its budget Monday, moving gym personnel expenditures from its recreation budget to its operating budget to balance its recreation funds. Gym personnel (referees, assistants, etc.) fall under the same category as other employees paid by the operating fund, such as lifeguards, the board said. The board budgeted about $15,000 for gym personnel, bringing the operating-budget salary expenses to about $204,000. The total budget is $416,000. The recreation budget sits at about $77,000 with $48,000 coming from the city of Winchester.