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Athletic director will now be able to coach
BY JAMES JACENICH • STAFF WRITER
MONTEREY - During the administration of Highland County Public Schools' superintendent Dr. Nancy Lightner three years ago, the school board made it policy that the athletic director could not also coach. It was reasoned the athletic director couldn't adequately supervise coaches and be a coach at the same time.
The policy went into effect during the tenure of athletic director Gray Honaker and lasted through athletic directors Margie Swanger and Joe Neil.
But recently Blair hired Brian Parker of Suffolk, a seasoned coach and special education teacher, as athletic director/ recreation director.
"I don't believe in changing course in midstream unless my horse is drowning," said Blair Monday. "It is difficult to hire coaches. We have a young man (Parker) that is qualified to coach. I'd like to consider him for a coaching position. I can't do that. I would like to change course and delete that (prohibition from the policy). I think (the old policy) served its purpose well."
School board chair Bobbie Hefner said, "When we made this regulation we had other things in mind … We are under different leadership also." She was referring to Lightner, who left two years ago under a cloud of suspicion, poor teacher morale, and an apparent lack of confidence in her leadership from members of the community and the school board.
Board member Kim Bird said, "We thought (the restriction) was a good thing to do, but we are flexible, maybe that didn't work so well. I think this is one of those times (when we should reconsider)."
The board removed the coaching restriction from the policy regarding athletic director. through the air at 60 miles per hour. Should live entertainment - and lots of it - be more your speed, this is the place to be.
This year's entertainers are: Friday, Alison Krauss and Union Station; Saturday, Montgomery Gentry with special guest, Jason D. Williams; Sunday at 4 p.m., Jamie and Bobby Deen, hosts of Food Network's "Road Tasted"; Monday, The McKameys and Brian Free and Assurance (free concert); Tuesday, Randy Owen from "Alabama," and Tracy Lawrence; Wednesday, "Sugarland"; Thursday, X-Fest Freestyle Motocross Jumpoff (5 p.m.) and at 8 p.m., the Greenbrier Valley Theater's production "Always Patsy Cline." Next Friday, Corbin Bleu, Jake Bell and Jordan Pruitt. To finish off with a flourish, who should roll into town Saturday, August 18, but The Beach Boys. All shows start at 8 p.m., unless otherwise noted.
Be forewarned: Tickets went on sale May 9, so your chosen show may be sold out. This is no problem: The grandstand and show stage are right on the grounds. If the Beach Boys are playing and you don't have a ticket, grab a donut or steak sandwich and fries; then, hang out and listen. It is not unusual to see fairgoers dancing while licking snowcones, or munching those impossibly huge, and hugely popular, cinnamon sticky buns.
If you're an animal lover, you'll find plenty to admire at the fair. Someone I know has a zealous fascination with draft horses. There's not much of a greater high than nuzzling the soft, pink muzzle of a seven-foot tall creature who weighs 12 times more than you do.
And then, there are the bunnies. Try not to ponder just why people raise cute little bunnies, or what becomes of the fuzzy darlings when the fair is over. Just know that cruising past the bunny cages is always good for a laugh.
Last year's entries included the world's cutest tiny white bunny with black polka dots. He was napping with his head in the food dish, as if the very act of eating was exhausting. His chocolate brown neighbor ate her lunch, and then curled up completely inside her bowl. The best-in-show bunny was larger than the average dog. He sat regally in his cage, configured to show himself off to best advantage.
One pass through the cattle barn might make you feel inferior; the cattle are probably cleaner, and far better groomed, than most fairgoers.
There will be no poultry at the fair this year. No matter, chickens and roosters are, well, rather boring, compared to the goats. If you're lucky, you might have a very special experience in the goat barn: One regular goat exhibitor always brings kids - the goat kind - who are very people-friendly. If the goat man takes a shine to you, he might give you an animal cookie (of course), show you how to hold it in your mouth, and let the kids nibble it. Ladies, you may have been kissed by a few old goats; this is your chance to add adorable young ones to the list.
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