The wait is over for Mendenhall High School football players and band members to enjoy their new facilities.
The Simpson County School Board voted to build the new facilities on December 14, 2016. Landry and Lewis were the architects and Larry J. Sumrall of Laurel were contracted to construct the facilities. The upgrades to the school cost $1,948,000 and took eight months to complete.
A ribbon cutting and open house ceremony were held last Friday for the field house and band hall.
Superintendent Greg Paes addressed the crowd before the ceremony began and thanked the Simpson County School Board, Simpson County Supervisors, City of Mendenhall, and the taxpayers for seeing the project through. He said, “It’s something that was needed. The band has never had a band hall. They’ve always moved around to empty buildings.” Paes said that the students appreciate the new facilities and what they mean for Mendenhall.
Head football coach Chuckie Allen said about the new field house, “It’s something that the kids will really enjoy and appreciate.” Allen said that the facility will be fully functional with a weight room, training room, and storage space for equipment. The facility includes a head coach’s office and assistant coaches’ office with a large flat screen TV mounted on the wall for studying game film.
Allen explained that he has a great appreciation for the new field house especially after spending much time in the old one. Allen said, “We have enough space for our players to rest and get focused. Now we can do everything we need to do right here.”
