16 Vermillion Plain Talk August 17, 2012 www.plaintalk.net Jumping in with both feet

By Kelsey Collier-Wise Executive Director, United Way of Vermillion

I am one of the hoards of parents who descends on the city pool every day for swimming lessons during the summer. For almost a month now, my two year-old has been learning the basics of the life aquatic -- kicking your legs, blowing bubbles, going The University of announced a $20 million gift from under water, and, of course, jumping in. So far Sanford Health Wednesday, Aug. 8 that will be used to eventually build a proposed $50 million athletic arena. This image depicts what it appears that, much like her mother, she is the inside of the proposed basketball/volleyball arena would look like. not a born swimmer. But thanks to the great (Courtesy image) Parks and Recreation swim instructors, she and other kids like her are getting the chance should alleviate concerns from to improve their skills and learn to love the donors. water. ■ ARENA “That’s the key. A lot of the At swimming lessons the other day, another discussions we’ve had before were mom who was preparing to move away from From Page 1 about the dollar amount, that it Vermillion was lamenting how hard it would gave me the chance to tell her about the work I issue that deserves our attention. We should be might be overwhelming,” Sayler be to find another community that had so do with United Way of Vermillion -- an proud, however, of all we do to make sure the administrative offices, a new said. “Now we can honestly say many free and low cost activities for kids. “In organization that is one of the big reasons that children in Vermillion have a chance to learn training room, luxury boxes, and the end is in sight.” other places I’ve lived, there are nice things for swimming lessons are only $10 per child for and splash and play, a chance to dive at any the Kinesiology and Sport Science Kudera agreed, saying that it wealthy families, and few opportunities for the estimated 400 kids who take advantage of opportunity, a chance to jump into life with (KSS) program. was only natural for early donors everyone else,” she told me. “Here, it’s the same them every summer. This community of both feet, no matter what their circumstances. A new arena, however, is not to be skeptical of a project that was still looking for significant for everyone. Everyone is together. You can’t generous United Way donors has provided -- the only upcoming change to the tell who’s rich and who’s poor at swimming funding for about half of the costs not covered Learn more about the United Way of USD athletic facility landscape. financial backing. The complete 2015 Master Plan “When almost half of this is lessons.” by registration fees for years. What an amazing Vermillion and how you can Live United at for Athletic Facilities called for $70 taken care of, it’s more of a I was really struck by her statement. It accomplishment! UnitedWayofVermillion.org! million in construction projects — realistic goal,” he said. “Hopefully reinforced a lot of things I believe about We hear a lot about the number of renovations to the Dome, a new we can have some donors help Vermillion and the things we value here. It also struggling families in Clay County, and it’s an basketball/volleyball arena, and finish this thing up.” track and soccer complexes. USD Wednesday’s gift was similar received permission last year from to the ones Sanford made with the state Board of Regents to North Dakota State two years ago SDPB Radio jazz host nominated for honor move forward with, for those to for $10 million for facility be directly impacted by having a improvements, and the one last Jim “Uncle Jimmo” Clark, 10 MT) across South Dakota. top new artists and local new home, there was excitement week with South Dakota State for cool jazz host of SDPB Radio’s JazzWeek, the national jazz performance. Check out the surrounding Wednesday’s news. $10 million for an indoor Jazz Nightly, has been radio airplay charting Web site at “It’s the next step to it practice facility and human nominated for Jazz organization, tracks how SDPB.org/JazzNightly for becoming a reality. It’s definitely performance center. Programmer of the Year by releases are used by stations and playlists. going to happen, it’s just a matter When it comes to upcoming JazzWeek. programmers across the United Jazz hosts and record of time now,” USD volleyball construction in Vermillion, Clark is nominated in the States. industry representatives from coach Matt Houk said. “It’s however, the finish line is in sight, small market category for his “It’s an honor to be across the country will be exciting for all of us.” Sayler said. work on the long-running nominated,” said Clark. voting on the JazzWeek Houk was at Wisconsin-Green “This whole project has united SDPB Radio program, airing Jazz Nightly with Jim Clark nominees. Winners will be Bay when the school began everyone in our department,” he weeknights from 8-11 p.m. (7- features the best of jazz classics, announced Aug. 30 in Detroit. construction on a new arena, and said. “We’re all on board because JIM ‘UNCLE JIMMO’ CLARK said that project “added some we know this will benefit buzz” to the campus. everyone. The surface will be AstroTurf DakotaDome to convert for other including all assets and “The kids are excited that “From administrators on down PureGrass, a tufted nylon product types of events. intellectual property, since 2004. things are going on,” he said. to athletes, it’s a great thing.” ■ that provides exceptional, all- The AstroHopper system rolls This summer, the three largest “The fact that we can say to Transitioning from a spacious TURF around performance. PureGrass up field panels and maximizes indoor sports facilities in the recruits, ‘This is going to be your environment like the DakotaDome From Page 1 was designed as a premium, storage capacity by eliminating Upper Midwest are getting new home,’ it shows an absolute to a new, more intimate arena will multi-purpose, extra-plush turf wrinkles, bagging, or telescoping AstroTurf surfaces. Not only is the commitment from everyone.” certainly take some time to needed." with a high fiber density. The which can lead to increased DakotaDome updating its That’s the next step in the adjustment, but in the end it will PureGrass system at the surface wear, tear, and damage. AstroTurf surface, the phase for USD: Raising the Herbster visited several be worth it, Kudera said. facilities, but was sold when he DakotaDome will not contain AstroTurf is backed by Textile in North Dakota and remaining $30-35 million. “The dome has its own home “As I see it, the challenge has visited the indoor practice facility infill and is designed to be a Management Associates, Inc. the in Grand Forks, court advantage — it’s tougher to at the University of Kansas. The portable system, which will rest (TMA), one of the leading N.D. are also getting new now been issued to USD alumni shoot in there and it can get really and friends to match the Sanford Jayhawks had the same kind of on an 8mm pad. suppliers to the synthetic turf AstroTurf fields. gift and make our vision a loud. But a true basketball arena system that USD was looking for. The system will employ the industry. Textile Management The DakotaDome project will reality,” USD president Jim has more advantages,” he said. "When we saw the field at AstroHopper conversion system, Associates, Inc. is part of a 35- be complete in time for the Abbott said in a release. “David Sayler and everyone else Kansas, we knew we wanted to which is designed to allow for year-old, family owned Coyotes to take the field for their With nearly half of the project realizes that, so I think this will be have that in the DakotaDome," removal and storage of the field in manufacturing group based in home opener against Colgate on committed, Sayler said that a great thing.” said Herbster. a timely and cost-effective Dalton, Georgia. The company Sept. 8. manner, to allow the has owned the AstroTurf® brand, W E B UY G OLD T OP D OLLAR P AID O N T HE S POT

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