There just can be no excuse for East Ridge High School's stadium being in such dangerous condition that it has been condemned.
Where is responsible for this? I know there are a few other stadiums like this as well. And there is no excuse for this.
Building new and beautiful schools, state of the art technology. Top athletic facilities as well. Yet, East Ridge and other schools have stadiums condemned?
I feel for these students. It simply is not acceptable and there is no excuse.
Can anyone that knows say who is responsible?
Jennifer Conners
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In a letter about who is responsible for the East Ridge stadium I would say first responsibility is the principal and second would be the athletic director.
Douglas Jones
Ooltewah
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In the early 1970's East Ridge football stadium needed replacement seats, the wooden ones were worn out and there was no visitors seats. So, what happened? With no quarterback club, locals got together and elected Brad Smith as our first president and than we got to work.
First we went to the County Commission and made a request and the Red Bank representative told us to "drop dead, get the funds yourselves," so we did. The cost we found would be $60,000. At that time East Ridge was a community of residents who banded together, we had BBQ's, fund raising, knocking on doors, we asked for a donation from anyone who would listen.
After a year we had all but $5,000 and the city of East Ridge found a way to cover that. East Ridge Quarter Back Club installed those metal seats and the visitors side also but, times have changed.
East Ridge is now a community of over 51 percent renters, who can care less about the community they live in. There is no leadership from the East Ridge City Council, none. There is also a large percentage of students who do not live in the city of East Ridge and care less about the community their children are schooled in. Apathy is alive and well in my city, it has destroyed many good community groups and clubs. This is a new era of dwellers who can care less about anything except themselves let alone a football stadium.
East Ridger's must care about the city they live in, unfortunately they don't, and that is a sorry fact. Few are willing to work in the hot sun grubbing for success for its children. With no leadership, and apathy, I see little success for a news football stadium unless the county comes up with the money.
Chuck Mehan
East Ridge since 1962