The West Delaware High School addition and remodel project is running smoothly and due to the mild fall, the work schedule is staying right on track.

Tim Foster of Larson Construction from Independence is in charge of construction at the high school and said anywhere from 15 to 40 crew members are on site depending on what projects are being worked on. Larson Construction moved on site in May; crews began work in June immediately after school was let out for summer vacation, and currently have all the walls up of the addition with the exception of the east auditorium wall which will serve as the back of the stage.

Larson said the final wall is being kept open in order to allow truck and material access for inside work on the auditorium.

The 82-foot walls in the auditorium are impressive, with catwalks for lighting purposes, a sound booth, and large orchestra pit. One can easily vision the productions that will soon be taking place.

The bond issue passed by the district for slightly over $7.5 million includes construction of the shell of the auditorium. Fundraising is currently taking place to cover the cost of everything inside the auditorium.

Crews from Barker Lemar Engineering Consultants in Des Moines are also currently working on installing the geothermal heating and cooling system. West Delaware Director of Buildings and Grounds Ron Swartz said more than half of the bore holes are installed. Swartz also commented that the district should see a five to seven year payback having decided to include geothermal heating and cooling with the building project. Then, depending on the price of natural gas, the district could see a saving of $45,000- $50,000 per year compared to a conventional heating and cooling system.

Foster estimated 75 to 80 percent of the roof is complete on the addition, which includes a commons area, front staff offices, kitchen area and band and vocal rooms. Also, about 50 percent of the windows are installed.

“We are in good shape if winter hits,” Swartz stated.

A temporary heating system is in place in all areas except for the auditorium. Foster anticipates interior finishing to begin in three weeks.

“Our biggest driver this summer will be student areas needed for this fall,” Swartz explained.

These areas include the commons, kitchen, front offices, band and vocal areas. They should be complete in time for the 2007 school year. The completion of the auditorium should not be far behind.

Also during the summer, crews will begin work on remodeling of the current high school. The band and vocal areas will become part of the technology education department and be used for woods and metal classes. The lunchroom will become a weight room and the kitchen will be remodeled for classrooms, as the current portables will no longer be used.

The locker rooms will be remodeled with funds from the bond issue, but the West Delaware Booster Club has taken it upon themselves to raise funds for a 13-foot by 30-foot locker room addition.

The sixteen classroom addition is planned to begin in August 2007, but depends on the timing of the old gym and vocational agriculture building demolition.

“A lot depends on the removal of those buildings,” Foster said. “If we can get going on the foundation (of the classrooms) by August we should be on track.”

Once the classroom addition is complete, which is expected to be in January 2008, work can begin on the parking lot.

Swartz had nothing but praise for Larson Construction, saying, “They are working out really well, and have done an excellent job on site.”

Delaware County now has a new and enhanced 911-dispatch center and equipment.

“The process started three years ago because the equipment was pushing 25 years,” said Norm Wellman, the emergency management director.

The system, which is located within the Manchester Police Department but is used for the entire county, has three separate recording devices and will be used for the dispatchers, liability and for court purposes if necessary.

“If they are calling from a land-line number,” said Manchester Police Chief Bruce Trapp, “the dispatcher can locate where they are.”

And now four cellular phone companies have signed on, with one or two other companies coming, to help locate people who use cell phones.

“The (system) can convert the call to a map for the dispatcher,” said Trapp.

The phase, which is one of a long line of projects done and in process, cost $200,000. But, according to Wellman, the entire communications project has, so far, cost the county about $700,000. A large amount of the money came from the Homeland Security grant through the local Emergency Management Board, with additional funds coming from the 911 Board and 911 Surcharge Funds.

Wellman said the board received the money in 2005 but had to order and install the equipment. The new 911 equipment did not go on-line until September of 2006.

The county wide improvement project, which will be completed in 2007, included the new communications tower in Delaware that was put up earlier this year.

“We will be erecting more towers in all four corners of the county, including one in Backbone, to help with communications,” said Wellman.

The state of the art Computeraided Dispatching touch screen system, runs 24 hours a day, seven days a week with the help of three full time and three part time dispatchers.

“(The project and the systems) purpose is to make everything run more efficient,” said Trapp.

The county, according to Trapp, probably receives 15 to 20 911 calls per day. These calls include ones for the sheriff’s office, police departments, fire departments and ambulances.

“Our dispatchers are probably the most experienced, well-trained and dedicated dispatchers anywhere in the state,” said Trapp.

The 11 screened system can be adjusted so dispatchers can work while standing.

“For working eight hours a day, this helps,” said Wellman.

The board is also working towards a 211 system for the county. This would be a widespread communication line for people to call if there was a flu epidemic or other information residents wanted to obtain.

Chris and Lori Blommers, of North 4th Street in Manchester, received first place in the Best of Show category for Manchester’s 2006 Christmas Lighting Contest.

The Best of Show category was just one of the four categories about 28 residents and business owners participated in this year. Cody Poehnelt, of North 6th Street in Manchester, received first place in the Most Lights and Decorations category for his front and back yard decorations.

Mike Morrison, who lives on Sunrise Drive and who nominated his neighborhood for Best Neighborhood, received first place in that category and Marilyn’s Hallmark received first place in the Best Business category.

“This was a record year for nominations,” said Ben Page, director of Parks and Recreation for Manchester. He also mentioned that the judging went very well and all six judges had a lot of fun.

Other winners within the Best of Show category were (second place) Tim and Deb Rudd of Delhi Road and (third place) Brenda and Virgil Lewis of East Prospect Street.

Within the Most Lights and Decorations category winners were (second place) John and Betty Erthum of West Acres and (third place) Larry Goranson of Bailey Drive.

The second place for Best Neighborhood went to Ryan Wicks of Seeley Street and third place when to Betty Vaske.

Widner Drug and Sue’s Flower and Garden Center won second and third place respectively for the Best Business category.

“All the other participates received Honorable Mention,” said Page.

Winners of all four categories received prizes from KMCH’s prize closet.