Staff from Lombardi Development Company attended the Best of Best Reader’s Choice Awards
Staff from Lombardi Development Company attended the Best of Best Reader’s Choice Awards. Lombardi was a finalist for the General Contractor category.
A vision in pink
Dressed in pink, staff with Lombardi Development of Follansbee greeted Lawrence and Hanna Scurry of Weirton and their children — Ray, 1, and Maverick,3, at one of many stations staffed by local businesses and groups during the Follansbee Chamber of Commerce’s Trunk-or-Treat event Thursday outside the Follansbee Community House. Lombardi Development simulated a life-size doll box for photo opportunities and decorated their vehicle in pink for the occasion. — Warren Scott
Construction of New Grand Vue Park Swimming Pool Continues
Construction of the new, larger swimming pool at Grand Vue Park continues with the project’s first concrete pour happening this week.
The park made the announcement on its social media to the delight of its patrons. The pool is replacing the park’s current facility and will be much larger.
The park decided to replace its current pool to make a bigger one to accommodate the increasing number of guests arriving there. The addition of the park’s new RV park last summer was also part of that decision.
Construction of the new pool by Lombardi Construction of Follansbee began last July. It will also feature a rock climbing wall, diving board, two slides, water walks, basketball hoops and other water tools, according to park information.
The new pool’s designer was Martin Aquatic of Florida.
“Located in a nature and adventure park that overlooks the Ohio River Valley, the Grand Vue Park Aquatic Center will feature a 7,500-square-foot pool that offers activities and excitement for every age level,” according to the Martin Aquatic website.
“Thrill-seekers can test their mettle on the 21-foot-tall dual slide tower, the lilypad rope walk or the three-sided basketball hoop. Families with young children can enjoy the zero-entry end of the pool with spraying toys.
“Three traditional lap lanes are in the rectangular side of the pool, which reaches as deep as 11 feet and allows for a 1-meter diving board and a challenging aquatic rock climbing wall.
“For this project’s pool area, Martin Aquatic provided concept design services and hydraulic, structural, filtration, and chemical system design and engineering services.”
General Manager Craig White said previously the old pool was well attended by families with younger children, but not many teenagers used it. With it being larger and there being more water features, he anticipates more teens will frequent it.
Much like the old pool, the new pool will have a beach-style entry for those who do not want to use a ladder to get in and out. There will also be a handicapped chair lift for those who need it.
The pool closed in 2021 during construction of the RV Park. Because the pool was closed the park offered customers passes to other local pools instead.
The park anticipates selling pool passes closer to when the facility is ready to open, which is expected to happen for the Summer 2023 swimming season.
Weirton Chamber awards Christmas parade trophies
WEIRTON — The Weirton Area Chamber of Commerce has announced the award recipients for this year’s Weirton Christmas Parade, which was held Nov. 27 with a theme of “Weirton Wonderland.”
Trophies were presented Monday at the Weirton Chamber offices for the following categories:
Large Float: Lombardi Development, first place
XX Large Float: Cleveland Cliffs and John D. Rockefeller Career Center, tie for first place
Mini-float: Chambers and James Funeral Homes, first place; Dance by Hillary, second place
Decorated Vehicle/Specialty Unit: Rust Belt Jeep Alliance, first place; Army National Guard, second place
Performance Group (Dance Troupe, Walkers, Strollers, Carolers): Dancy by Hillary, first place; Weir Middle School Cheerleaders, second place
Best Band Sound: Brooke High School
Chamber officials noted there were close to 70 entries in the parade.
Sponsors for the 2021 Weirton Christmas Parade were Nick’s Auto, West Virginia Northern Community College, Summer’s Enterprise and Best You Boutique.
Fireworks sponsors were Encompass Health, Hancock County Savings Bank, Nick’s Auto, First Choice America Federal Credit Union, Tomtreyco/McDonald’s, and Window World, with Summer’s Enterprise serving as the grand finale sponsor.
Cameron High School Athletic Complex Unveiled
A major overhaul to the adjoining sports facility of Cameron High School is now in its final stages, and school officials are ready to show visitors what the Dragons’ lair looks like on the inside.
Overhauling the Dragon Stadium Athletic Complex began in January 2020, and M&G Architects and Engineers were tasked with a tricky setup — with limited room to expand outward, due to an already tight parking situation, the existing fieldhouse and concession area were instead renovated on the spot and built upward, while additional work was done along the sides of a nearby road to reinforce them. In total, the square footage was increased from around 4,300 to 12,425, at a cost of around $3.2 million. Construction was handled by Lombardi Development Co.
Marshall County Facilities Director Mike Price and CHS Athletics Director Roger Cain gave a tour of the new complex at the Board of Education meeting Tuesday evening. Earlier in the day, the directors did a walkthrough to show off the facility in the morning sun.
“The only thing we didn’t do was replace concrete in the block,” Price said. “Everything else has been re-engineered — we upgraded electric, we upgraded gas, we upgraded lighting, safety alarms, all those things.”
The first floor consists of a new locker room for referees, a visitor’s locker room that doubles as the middle school wrestling practice room, a middle school locker room, restrooms, and a newly outfitted concession stand. The middle school locker room, Cain added, was a massive improvement itself, as student athletes now have a place to stow their gear during the school day.
The facility’s upper story had several rooms serving multiple purposes, allowing multiple teams to practice at once. A 103-foot room runs the length of one side of the building, which provides space for an archery practice range, but also a mound surrounded by netting for pitching and batting practice. A large room with high ceilings serves as the central room on the upper story, allowing gymnastics, cheerleading and wrestling. This room is also used for community events, such as junior wrestling. Basketball will continue to be held in the two gyms of the high school.
Prior to the construction of the new facility, Price said, athletes of all stripes had to share the two gyms at Cameron High School, which seriously limited the amount of time available.
“They had to share the gym, and that’s why this is such a needed facility,” Cain said. “Year round, they’re doing all these things, and trying to utilize the same gym everyone else wants a piece of. They tried to schedule time, so the athletic directors’ challenges were, basketball is here until 9, archery maybe until 10 or 11, and with wrestling and everything else going on.”
The second floor also hosts a spacious and modern locker room, with an adjoining coach’s office connecting to a conference room. That room will double as an athletic training classroom. A training room and equipment room round out the top floor.
In the future, Cain said there are plans to establish a Hall of Fame — academic, athletic, and for any other purpose — in the vestibule.
The complex, now two stories, towers over the field, which itself was recently renovated, with turf and high-end material replacing a field that was grass only a few years ago. The field was partially damaged in the floods in June, but after two days of cleanup work, had been restored, good as new.
Cain added that with the pandemic last year, he’s eager to see the field and athletic complex finally be able to welcome returning fans and players at the same time.
Price added that the Cameron community has been fantastic in its support of the project and the Dragons, extending that support to the taxpayers of Marshall County who fund the school district.
“I can’t believe how well-received the community is. They’ve been nothing but gracious during this whole process,” Price said.