Cory Heubner Memorial Started at Central

A proposed new weight room and athletic field restroom project at Central High School has received funding from the Cory Heubner Memorial. Dwight and Cindy Heubner, the parents of Cory, have donated $10,500 of memorial funds to the Panther Pride Foundation, which will serve as the custodian of all donated funding for the project. This donation kicks off a fundraising effort to build a weight lifting facility and athletic field restroom with donated funds and volunteer labor that will benefit the students and community of Central schools.

Cory Heubner, a senior at Central, tragically died in an auto accident on December 10 th. and because of his love of football and weightlifting, the Heubners have contributed to this project. Cory was a scholar first and an athlete second. He was academically in the top five in his class and known for taking the most rigorous class schedule in order to prepare him for college. Athletically, he was a role model and inspiration to others by his work ethic and pursuit of excellence.
The need for the expanded weight room primarily is based upon the current lack of adequate facilities. Currently, a large number of Central students drive outside of the district on a regular basis in order to have access to weight lifting and conditioning equipment that Central does not have. Through the construction of a 36x48 weight room and the purchasing of equipment that meets the needs of CHS students, the need for students to travel outside of the district will be greatly reduced. By improving the facilities, coaches will be better able to monitor and assist student athletes in proper training.

Also linked with this project will be the construction of restrooms located by the athletic fields. Portable restrooms are rented every year for baseball and football events, which costs the district around $1400 annually. By building restrooms between the football and baseball field, the unsanitary portable restrooms will be replaced by facilities with lavatories that allow for proper hygiene. The district would then no longer have to spend taxpayer dollars for renting portable restrooms.

The estimated cost of the project would be approximately $80,000 if built without donated funds or volunteer labor. The goal of this project is to build this project with donated funds, grant monies, and donated services from individuals or groups wishing to contribute to a community project. The Central Booster Club has pledged $10,000 to the project to help make this a reality. The Football Task Force will be actively involved in assisting in the needs of the project.

The Central CUSD # 3 Board of Education has authorized Superintendent Marty Cook to appoint a committee of board members and representatives from the Central Booster Club, Football Task Force, and Panther Pride Foundation to oversee the project. The Panther Pride Foundation has volunteered to act as the custodian of any cash donations to the project that allows for donors to take advantage of their tax-exempt status.

Superintendent Cook would like the community to know that by using donated funds and volunteer labor, these projects will be constructed with limited exposure to taxpayers dollars, thus making the district better stewards of district funds. Funding and volunteer labor/services are still being sought for this project. Any groups or individuals who would like to contribute to this project may do so by contacting Superintendent Cook at the Central board office at 593-7116.