Construction workers at the SSHS Indoor Practice Facility continue to be plagued by mud,
as they attempt to lay the foundation.

 

"In the Mud Zone"

Local Farmers and Construction Workers
Dealing With Mud and More Mud

 

by: Bobby McDonald

 

This has become the common sight that Highway-154 workers and motorist see
every morning.

 

With another day and night of rain, yesterday, both farmers and construction workers in Hopkins County are battling flooded fields, saturated construction sites, and more water and mud than they've seen in decades. "I'm in my 70's and I know that you sometimes forget, but this is the muddiest that I've seen my pastures," expressed one local rancher, on Thursday, as more rain was falling. "We've moved hay racks and feeding places so many times this winter, that we're about to run out of places to put them!"

"My cattle are almost 'swimming' into the barn, each milking," advised local dairy farmer, Morgan Anderson. "We change routes to and from the barn and then it will come another flood and that route gets difficult for them to come into the barn. You can just change routes so many times and you never have time to clean one up, before it's time to rotate to it again. It's definitely a mess!"

Another dairy farmer explained that he was having difficulty distributing his manure. "The fields are so saturated and soggy, that they won't hold up the equipment, when we go to put out the manure," said the farmer. "Water is standing in the fields, with just nowhere for it go. I've never seen it this wet!"

 

 

A visit with Dale Guest, with Sulphur Springs ISD, revealed that construction on the Indoor Practice Facility at SSHS, is approximately three to four weeks behind. "We began construction on December 27th, and there really hasn't been much dry weather since then," related Guest. "The contractors have had equipment stuck, and each morning they come to work with another round of water to deal with! I got a report this week, and they allowed that it was at the 3% completion stage, and honestly I think they are being very, very optimistic, when you look at all of that mud!"

Guest stated that the contractor, still hopes to have the facility completed by January or February of 2011. "This wet weather can't last forever, so maybe they can have some great weather to work, once it all moves out!" stated Guest.

 

 

 

 

Meanwhile, as anyone that travels Highway-154 can relate, the contractors on that road have met the very same fate, with just beginning the project and then being covered in water. The construction sites along the busy roadway are saturated and flooded each morning, when workers arrive.

"Look at the bright-side, we'll more than likely be praying for rain by July and August," exclaimed dairyman Morgan Anderson. "I just wish it could all be 'spread-out' a little bit and not all come at one time!"

 

One enterprising youth, observing equipment stalled at SSHS suggested, "If all else fails,
maybe next year we can add the sport of mud wrestling!"

 

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