By Myra Bean

The North Panola football field finally got its irrigation system. The field was built back in 1971 and since then the various coaching staffs have been pulling hoses to get the field in playing condition for 42 years. Some years it worked and some years it did not.

Rick Hickman, who put in the system for Oxford High, Potts Camp and H.W. Byers, worked the last week digging trenches and laying down the pipe. The pipes have been covered but the evidence of where he laid the pipe is still noticeable.

The process of laying an irrigation system includes digging trenches 12 to 16 inches deep and laying the pipe. The sprinkler heads are a certain distance apart according to what each business wants.

The automated system has sprinkler heads that are level with the top of the ground. Once the pressure on the trigger head is released, it will pop up and water for a preset time. When it shuts off, the head goes back down.

“It will be nice,” Hickman said. “He (Carl Diffee) won’t have to drag hoses anymore. When I came in the spring and we were talking about being able to do it, his grass was not very good. He has done an excellent job of getting it in shape. He will have a nice field this year because all of those spots will grow in and trenches will heal.”

It took Hickman about five days from start to finish as some sprinkler heads were backordered. The trenches have been dug for the practice field.

In addition to the irrigation, a new chain link fence now surrounds the entire football field from end zone to end zone.

“It was done by a North Panola alum who brought his crew down and did it at a reduced price,” North Panola head football coach Derek King said.

These are just a few of the improvements on the horizon for the Cougar team.

An external fence is in the plans, according King, but it will have to wait a while.

Two of the biggest improvements include an extension of the road around the football field and an extension to the field house.

The road will be extended starting next week, according to Panola County road supervisor Lygunnah Bean. Currently, there is only one way in and one way out. The road improvement will add another exit to the field area.

In October 2012, North Panola announced plans to build a new 4,250 foot fieldhouse. However, those plans have been tabled for the near future.

Plans are now in place to add 2,000 feet to the existing facility.

“We will get a freestanding locker room,” King said. “It will be a nicer locker room that is for our kids and have an expanded weight room.”

King said it will save some money and renovations are expected to be started soon.

“We have already made a ton of improvements. We are focused on utilizing the space that we have,” King said.

King said that they could be upset about not getting a new facility, but instead choose to be thankful for what they already have been able to do.

The renovations are expected to take six to eight weeks and the season opens August 23. It is possible the facility will not be ready for opening day, King said.