Thompson Passionate About Ball Fields

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On July 21st, citizens of Gilmer County stopped by Ronnie Thompson Ford Mercury in support of finishing four incomplete ball fields at Clear Creek Middle School.

Last week, Ronnie Thompson, owner of Ronnie Thompson Ford Mercury and former schoolboard member, announced to FYN his disagreement with a decision that had been made to spend Gilmer County’s 30 million dollar General Obligation Bond that was partly suppose to go to recreational use on other projects.

In his letter, Thompson wrote that the former Commission Chairman Mark Chastain decided to spend the money for these improvements instead on firestations, an airport, and a new golf course pro shop. Thompson also stated that because of this decision, he feels that the kids are the ones who are suffering.

Thompson then mentioned in the letter how we now have four unfinished ball fields out at Clear Creek and the County is out of money, with $400,000 being invested in the ball fields already.

In an effort to complete the four ball fields at Clear Creek Middle School, Thompson has came up with an idea for the citizens of Gilmer County to fund the project themselves. Thompson says that what he would like to do is start a public/private effort to sell 1000 bricks at $100 each so that he can raise $100,000 to finish the fields, saying that people could get their names enscribed on the bricks like the ones at Veterans Memorial Bridge. Thompson also said that the labor to finish the project could be done by the Prison system for free. Thompson invited the citizens of Gilmer County to an event on Thursday to discuss the effort.

“It’s all about a public private effort to raise money to complete our parks and rec fields,”

Thompson said,

“The money was voted for by our citizens in our SPLOST tax that a certain amount would go to recreation, and unfortunately it got spent in other places.”

Thompson says that he has contacted Bob Plemmons with the Building Program of the Georgia Department of Corrections, and that Plemmons is willing to provide the prison labor, transported by mobile units, if $100,000 can be raised to buy the materials. Thompson said that Georgia Speaker of the House David Ralston said he would also be willing to write a letter to Plemmons asking the project in Gilmer County to be put at the top of the priority list for projects being provided by the Department of Corrections. A good example of a project that has built through prison labor is the Murray County Park and Recreational Gymnasium.

The bricks being sold for materials, Thompson says, would be engraved and used to build a backstop for the structure of the fields, and would symbolize a legacy for the families and friends of Gilmer County.

“Our first project that would be done is going to complete the ball fields.”

Thompson said.

Thompson says that though the County has already provided grading, surveying, and stakes for the fence around the fields, a pad would need to be laid so that a pressbox, the bathrooms, and concession stand for the four fields could begin being constructed.

In addition, Thompson says that a pad has already been laid to build a multipurpose facilty like the one in Fannin County. The multipurpose facility will consists of gynasiums and a walking trail around it that the citizens of Gilmer County can use. However, he said he would focus on this facility in the future, and start on the project to finish the ball fields first.

“I’ve got a passion to complete these fields.”

Thompson said.

When asked how he felt this project would benefit the children of Gilmer County, Thompson said,

“It will benefit them very much. We have a lot of children that would play if we had facilities for them.”

Thompson added that he had been informed by Plemmons that out of the 35,000 prisoners in the Georgia System only one percent have participated in park and recreational activities or high school sports.

“I think that children get the structure that they don’t get at home a lot of times from the ball coaches. A lot of the older coaches in this county have made a lot of differences in these kid’s lives.”

Thompson told the crowd on Thursday that he hopes to start the project by September 1st, and he plans to start a non-profit organization so that people can donate their money for bricks this week.

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