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Volume 9, No. 11
Friday, June 2, 2023
BOE Passes Controversial Change Order for High School Stadium
Public Expresses Concerns Over Increased Costs ND
By Allison Wilson K I R T editor@karlovecmedia.com
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Community members crowded into the Kirtland High School cafeteria May 15 to express concerns over unexpected cost increases for construction of the district’s new stadium and to hear an update from school officials. While construction on the new football stadium began early, it had to be paused per an update on April 14 after the Kirtland Schools Board of Education was made aware of new, much steeper additional costs in regard to drainage under the field and issues with the drive sur-
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CHRONICLE ONICLE ND KIR TLA
Coffee with Council Coffee with Council is Saturday, June 10 10-11 a.m., at Kirtland City Hall. For more information, contact Joe Smolic at 440-487-8984 or JSmolic@ kirtlandohio.com
CHRONICLE ALLISON WILSON/KMG
Construction on the stadium has continued since the May 15 Kirtland Schools Board of Education meeting.
rounding the visitor’s stands. Despite assurances from Superintendent Chad VanArnhem the cost will be reduced and the stadium will be ready before the soccer and football seasons begin, the public has been uneasy.
There have been two prior change orders on the project at a cost of $160,000 for longer lasting turf and $230,000 for a video scoreboard. A recommendation to approve a third stadium change order, previous number three on the board
of education’s agenda May 15, was moved to priority. Prior to building, it was estimated the cost of the new stadium would be in the range of $4.2 million. A fiveyear, permanent improvement levy
Baseball Wins Conference, Sectional Titles See Page 6
See Stadium • Page 4
Latter-day Saints Celebrates 20 Years in Historic Kirtland By Allison Wilson editor@karlovecmedia.com
Rainy skies turned clear and sunny over historic Kirtland May 20 as The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints celebrated the 20th anniversary of its site’s dedication. The church has acquired and restored several historic sites over the years, including some original buildings, as well as reconstructions that were built upon the original foundations. The church site was dedicated May 18, 2003, by the late Gordon B. Hinckley, then president of the church, and has since seen over a million visitors, according to its history. Festivities May 20 included an open house of all the historic buildings, free food offered in a picnic area, a Dutch oven cookoff, toy making activities and a genealogy books display. Scott Barrick, who recently began service at the historic sites alongside his wife, Shauna Barrick, spoke of the warm reception the two had received while settling in. “Little did we know how warmly we would be welcomed and what
SUBMITTED
Kirtland area student winners in the first annual Creative Writing Contest included, from left, Karli DiFranco, Kevin Urbanick, Danika Schaumburg, Andrew Duncan, Braydon Yates and Payton Adkins.
ALLISON WILSON/KMG
Students Showcase Writing Talents, Humor in Contest
President Nathan Johnson reflects on the significance of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints’ historic sites.
By Donna L. Robinson editor@karlovecmedia.com
a co-operative city we would find here, knit together with the fabric of churches and faith traditions, civic, educational, service and business groups,” he said. “Little did we know how much we would love serving with missionaries, young and not so young, and how deeply moved we would be to sit and stand in sacred spaces where we believe God the Father and his son Jesus Christ literally appeared to many.” See Anniversary • Page 5
Kirtland area students with a flair for the written language had a chance to flex their creative muscles this spring. And flex them they did. A total of 15 out of 21 entries in the Kiwanis Club of Kirtland’s first annual Creative Writing Contest received awards last month. “At a recent (Kirtland Schools) Board of Education meeting, a parent commented how his son doesn’t pick up a ball and go out
to play, but he does pick up his computer and writes,” said Kathy Talty, chair of youth services for Kiwanis. “When the contest was announced, he went right to work. His father thanked us, the Kirtland Kiwanis, for giving his son this opportunity.” The contest, which circled the theme “Something Funny,” was split up into three sections — sixth-eighth grade; ninth-10th grade and 11th-12th grade. Each category had the chance to win a Blue Ribbon, $200; Red Ribbon, See Contest • Page 10
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