Check it out: KIDS AT?PLAY

Published 4:00 pm Tuesday, November 18, 2008

<I>The Eagle/Angel Carpenter</I><BR>Third-grader Dillon Maley gives the new slide at Humbolt a test run.

CANYON CITY – A long line of school children waited their turn on the new slide – which is actually three slides in one – at Humbolt Elementary on Monday, November 10. Their cheers and laughter showed just how excited they were to have the new playground equipment.

The students waited two years for the new slide.

In November 2006, a playground inspector determined that because the school’s old metal slide had no platform, it posed a falling hazard.

Teri Bowden, the PTA president that year, let students help choose a new slide to work toward then sleeves were rolled up and the fund-raising began.

Marissa Williams, the current PTA president, said the funds for the slide came mainly from two JAXCO catalog orders.

She and PTA member Christie Nelson were busy organizing and handing out two pallets of items from JAXCO sales to students Nov.14, including chocolates, Christmas wrap and gift items.

“This project could not have been done without kids’ hard work on the catalog sales,” she said. “This slide should show what hard work and patience – since they had to wait two years – can do.”

“Humbolt School students rock!” she said.

This is a cheer she and the students have shouted out together since she became PTA president in September 2007.

Students raised enough money to pay approximately $12,000 for the slide and $3,500 for swing-set hardware.

Williams was pleased with the fund-raising support that came from parents and the rest of the community.

She also appreciated help from her husband, Zach, and his father King Williams, who drove them to Portland, donating his time, gasoline, truck and trailer to pick up the equipment and save an $800 shipping fee. They also helped install the equipment, an effort that took four days.

Russ Young, owner of Iron Triangle Logging, made a large cash donation and also contributed machine time and manpower to help with installation. Also donating elbow grease were Ronnie Taynton, Terry Harper (both of Iron Triangle), Mike Cosgrove, and students from Curt Shelley and Kris Kizer’s Grant Union High School classes.

“The Grant County Road Department, Malheur Lumber Company, Tidewater, the Town of Canyon City and the Blue Mountain Eagle also made generous donations,” Williams said.

Students had lots to say about the new slide – “really fun” and “really, really fun” were the main responses.

First-grader Sierra Cates said she likes the middle slide best “because it’s bumpy.”

Her classmates Richie Horton and Jade Ann-Marie Freniere both like the first slide.

“It’s curvy and goes really fast,” Jade said.

First-grader Alex Cook and third-grader Dillon Maley both like the height of the slide and its speedy rides.

“It’s really, really fun because it goes really fast,” Dillon said. “They usually let two go at a time so the line will go faster.”

“I really like the playground equipment,” third-grader Sierra Pace said. “There are three slides and we can race.”

Maggie Justice, also in third grade said she loves the new slide, too. “The rock climbing wall is going to be really fun, but we can’t use it yet,” she added.

That is the last hold up with the new equipment.

Principal Kris Beal said the children are enjoying the new slide. However, the rock-climbing wall attached to the slide’s south side is currently off limits until she gets approval from the school’s insurance company. She’s concerned about liability, especially with people using it when school is out of session.

For now, the students are enjoying what they can use.

Williams spent time on the playground with the children on the first week after installation.

“They go down and get right back in line. They’re good at not cutting in line, and using good manners,” she noted. “They are all so grateful.”

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