Recreation brings money to town

Published 12:00 am Sunday, July 26, 2009

Good morning to the citizens of Adams County. I would like to talk to you about the proposed recreation complex. I know there are a lot of questions on everyone’s mind.

In the coming weeks you will be provided with a proposed site, contents and cost.

I would not feel like we did our duty if you were not fully informed before you cast your vote. I will urge you not to vote for this complex if all your questions aren’t answered.

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I myself am for the proposed idea. This does not mean everyone will be, and this is a rare opportunity for me as an elected official to truly see what the people of District 1 think.

If this is voted down in November by the people in District 1, I will vote against it even though it is a passion of mine.

Now let me tell you one of my experiences. I was honored to be a coach of a group of 13-year-old boys/men, I say this because that summer I watched them grow up.

We were blessed enough to make it to the Dixie Boys World Series in Muscle Shoals, Ala. There we found a town a little smaller than Natchez. This town has two complexes. They host tournament baseball and softball every weekend and bring millions of dollars into their small community. I talked with several town officials and in their responses they said building the recreation complex was one of the best decisions they ever made. I will also tell you to look no further than St. Francisville, La. They host tournaments every weekend. I talked with Randy Albarez (the park director) as did Mayor Middleton and some of the local recreation committee members. He explained to us how his complex has been a boost to his community and one in Natchez would do much better. In St. Francisville they don’t have the hotel rooms to host the larger tournaments. Natchez is a place people love to visit and this would give them an excuse, and it would give us a chance to show our town off.

Travel sports has become big business whether it be baseball, softball, tennis, soccer, rodeo or swimming. All you have to do is read the local paper. The Natchez boys All-Stars are in Hattiesburg, the girls in Pineville, La., and now a group is heading to South Carolina to a town half the size of Natchez. If you don’t believe there’s money in travel ball, ask any of these parents or grandparents. I could go on and on about quality of life and many other reasons to vote for this complex, but maybe in the next couple of months many people like myself can share some experiences.

I would like see letters from all the different groups. Please write a Top of the Morning letting the people know why we need more tennis courts, a swimming pool, more softball fields or better soccer fields.

Speak now or forever hold your peace, this issue starts or dies in November.

Mike Lazarus is the Adams County supervisor representing District 1.