The Big Sandy Pool Committee members set the summer of 2023 to begin constructing the new Big Sandy Pool. Pool Committee members are Rich Jesperson, Diana La Buda, Dianna Keane, Lorrie Merrill, Heather Pleninger, Ann Quinn, Melanie, and Shaud Schwarzbach. The mission statement of the pool committee is: Our mission is to build a new Big Sandy pool to increase the quality of life and well-being of all residents and encourage the economic growth and vitality of our rural community.

The committee has currently raised $354,000, with the addition of 1,000 shares of stock having been donated, presently valued at $3,800. The Land, Water, Conservation Grant has been applied for, worth $350,000. The committee continues to work on other grants and will be reporting that success as we go forward. The committee wanted to start the fundraising by getting several grants before working on local fundraisers in the community. Be watching the Mountaineer for future fundraisers this summer. Several ideas have been discussed.

The Mountaineer has also agreed to publish a thermometer keeping track of the funds raised. We are also looking for old swimming pool pictures. The current pool is 70 years old, and it would be fun to have some of those old pictures surface. If you have any photos, don’t hesitate to get in touch with Lorrie Merrill at the Mountaineer so we can share them