Nah, we let those very, very few players from Independence that can actually get on the field for Highlands live in big, fancy homes.

 

Are there football players in Independence?

I didn't think the article was slanted one way or the other. It is a credit to HHS that the team/school is such a big deal in the community. People like to get behind a winner---makes them feel good.

This is what happens when a community decides that its metaphor for success is played on a field 100 yards long. This community's identity is defined by TD's and championship banners. Not criticizing. "Just sayin'," as they say on BGP. At Holmes and Mason County, it's basketball (a less expensive sport to fund). At St. Henry, it's cross country. At Harrison County, it's marching band (as I remember their excellent bands from the '90s). Different sports for different towns.

Contrary to some posts on here, I see no angle or malice at all. The writer even got quotes from Dale. Yes, agree he could have done more homework on getting some other schools budget/input but anymore what I look for is an interesting and different article, which this was. I don't really think this makes Highlands look bad? Good fundraising efforts make you look bad? huh?

 

Save the same old tired stories for someone else.

I am a highlands fan and I didn't see anything wrong with it. I am proud of the community support and glad it's not coming from tax dollars.

 

I guess I know how much is also given to the other ft Thomas schools and teachers through FTEF.

JOAT -- 2 things:

 

1 - replacing the Lion's Club with "HHS organization X" or "HHS organizations A-G" is not a complete windfall to HHS. For starters, remember that the Lion's club helped make the field turf possible by signing on to a 10 yr. commitment at over $10k per year. Additionally, they extended that commitment well beyond 10 yrs. when they came knocking again for new lights / sound system (another inaccuracy of the story -- this year is not the final payment). They also worked with the school and FTJFL to fund the required upgrades to the large concession stand a few years ago. When the turf needs to be replaced, I suspect they will be asked again. In addition to concessions, they are able to sell sponsor signage on the fence surrounding the field to make these payments.

 

2 - do you really think the HHS concession prices are significantly higher than other HS football concession stands? I didn't know if you were complaining about the prices at concession stands generally (Reds, Bengals, AMC, HS football, basically any place with a captive audience, etc.) OR complaining that the HHS concession prices are higher than those at most HS football concession stands. I have heard that complaint repeatedly, but I have never done a comparison of what a 12 oz. water, 12 oz. can of soda, slice of LaRosa's pizza, burger, chips, etc. costs at HHS or elsewhere.

 

I will try to answer as best I can. I know that Lion's Club has helped pay for field, but they have been running the concession stands for as long as I can remember and that is as far back as when the field was dirt in the middle. It would be a windfall for whatever HHS organization got to run the concession on a particular night. Soccer teams made over 1200 just this week for one boys game and one girls game. Nice sum that the band, dance team, prom to dawn or some other organization might like to have. Would like to know what other schools in our area give their concession monies to non-school operators.

 

From what I understand, two organizations wanted to have fundraisers at game tomorrow to sell items that the Lion's Club does not sell and were told we cannot do that. So we take away from school organizations who then go door to door to sell more stuff.

 

Have a big problem with the food prices for what you get. Have a bigger issue with what is sold in the concession stands. Anything more that $ 1 for a can of pop is too much and the price of the water is disgraceful. $ 2.50 for pizza and/or hot dog, again way too much. Also, how about some Nachos, Walking Tacos, Cheese Coney's, Chick Fil-A sandwiches? Nope. Same food and drink that they have been serving for the last 30 years.

 

I choose not to pay the exhorbitant prices at the concession stand and to compare it to Reds, Bengals, etc is not realistic to me. A ticket to a high school football game is $ 6 and tickets to the pros are 5 to 10 times that. Kids should be able to go the games with 10 bucks, buy a ticket to the game and be able to have a hot dog, soft drink and candy bar IMO and that cannot happen at HHS.

 

I am not saying that things are not priced to make a profit, but gouging is a little over the top for me. I will now get off my soapbox and look forward to another successful season for the Birds.

Numbers seem kinda low to me.

This was really just a very poorly executed attempt at a smear campaign by this "reporter" and the Kentucky Enquirer. I was really saddened to see that plastered story on the front page, like some kind of Watergate style expose'. Definitely not the Kentucky Enquirer's finest hour. They really should be focusing on stories that support our schools and young athletes.

 

:idunno: I didn't take it that way.

 

 

 

I guess because I do not live in the Fort I didnt read anything sinister into the story. I think the "story" was the amount of money being spent. I didnt sense an agenda. I posted it because of the impressive level of support shown by the community.

 

This is exactly how I took the story as well.

Guess you would have to have lived it. The subtle implication is that HHS is more or less buying their victories. Or at least, I think many people will read that implication into it.

 

That's EXACTLY how I read it BF.:popcorn:

I will try to answer as best I can. I know that Lion's Club has helped pay for field, but they have been running the concession stands for as long as I can remember and that is as far back as when the field was dirt in the middle. It would be a windfall for whatever HHS organization got to run the concession on a particular night. Soccer teams made over 1200 just this week for one boys game and one girls game. Nice sum that the band, dance team, prom to dawn or some other organization might like to have. Would like to know what other schools in our area give their concession monies to non-school operators.

 

From what I understand, two organizations wanted to have fundraisers at game tomorrow to sell items that the Lion's Club does not sell and were told we cannot do that. So we take away from school organizations who then go door to door to sell more stuff.

 

Have a big problem with the food prices for what you get. Have a bigger issue with what is sold in the concession stands. Anything more that $ 1 for a can of pop is too much and the price of the water is disgraceful. $ 2.50 for pizza and/or hot dog, again way too much. Also, how about some Nachos, Walking Tacos, Cheese Coney's, Chick Fil-A sandwiches? Nope. Same food and drink that they have been serving for the last 30 years.

 

I choose not to pay the exhorbitant prices at the concession stand and to compare it to Reds, Bengals, etc is not realistic to me. A ticket to a high school football game is $ 6 and tickets to the pros are 5 to 10 times that. Kids should be able to go the games with 10 bucks, buy a ticket to the game and be able to have a hot dog, soft drink and candy bar IMO and that cannot happen at HHS.

 

I am not saying that things are not priced to make a profit, but gouging is a little over the top for me. I will now get off my soapbox and look forward to another successful season for the Birds.

 

 

The Cheeseburgers off the grill though are definitely worth the price. :taz:

 

However, yes the 3x3 inch slice of pizza square for $2 or $2.50 is a little crazy. I generally eat before I go but the kids are always saying how they cant get squat for what we give them.

Just poor journalism. This reporter found some easy information at a few schools because they had detailed spending records available to the public. If info was not easily accessible he did nothing to dig for it. Schools have done many different things as it relates to accounting practices for athletic programs and fundraising activities. Recent mandated accounting practices will level the field a bit and bring a closer to reality look to what is actually spent. Schools such as Highlands have been using current 'red book' accounting practices and the result is an accurate public record. All districts are now required by law to follow those same guidelines.

If there was a real news story here it would be that Dixie runs its entire football program on $10,000 a year. Those guys or incredibly efficient. ............. Or it could be just poor journalism.

B I N G O, B I N G O, B I N G O & Bingo was his name O!

@ColdHard. I dont know the particular #'s but football at Dixie has always lived off the table scraps of the band program. I remember not heing allowed on the game field back in the day because the band had practice.

Writer appears to be an intern.

 

I asked him if he contacted CCH.

I dont normally buy the news paper anymore just because of all the negatives stuff being reported.

 

I also quit buying it because it is now half the size it used to be, WTH...

 

Maybe that is why they can now only report half the story...Just sayin:thumb:

 

But hey, thanks for keeping HIGHLANDS first in everyone's mind. People say they get tired of hearing about HIGHLANDS, well thank the media...Thank you very much, may I have another:banana: