By Myra Bean

North Panola school administrators and coaches called a meeting Monday morning of community and school district leaders to announce plans to build a new 4,250 sq. ft. fieldhouse.

Issues cited as the need for a new field house center around space for junior high players to dress and more space for the varsity team to workout and for equipment.

“It started as a dream,” said two-year principal Jamone Edwards. “Then the coaches and I got together and developed a plan.”

The current fieldhouse will be used for the junior high and half will be used as visitor lockerroom.

Some of the building materials will be donated and labor volunteered for the erection of the building, but conservator Robert King said the district will have to put in some funds.

“Though the coaches wanted it yesterday, a reasonable time line is we hope to have it finished by the end of next summer before the season starts,” King said.

A building outline was presented (see drawing), but King felt there are some missing areas that needed to be addressed like a girl’s bathroom and an equipment room. The fieldhouse is proposed to be built on the hill next to the practice field.

Initial supporters include Brent Bonds for dirt work; Buck Harris for plumbing, electricity and general labor; Draper Concrete to finish concrete; Southern Concrete for blocks for building; Finch-Henry Job Corps for building labor; James Birge County Supervisor; MMC Materials for concrete slab; and Panola County Sheriffs Department.