Okotoks - Fire topples tower at school football field

By John Barlow
Editor

Supporters of the local football programs are infuriated with the destruction of the announcer’s tower at the Foothills Composite High School on Saturday.
On Saturday evening bold vandals apparently set fire to the tower at the high school football field obliterating the facility causing more than $30,000 in damage.
“This is disgusting,” said Bert Huisman, manager of the Foothills Eagles Atom football program. “When we went (to the fire) on Saturday it was really disheartening. You just want to cry.”
The fire broke out at approximately 8 p.m. on Saturday evening attracting a throng of onlookers to the daylight blaze.
The Okotoks Fire Department was unable to save the tower — all that remains are the black, charred foundations.
Saturday’s fire was yet another in a string of vandalism that has decimated the facilities at the high school football field.
Last year the concession at the field was burned down and the tower has been vandalized and broken into several times.
Kevin Klotz, head coach of the Foothills Falcons, said it has been frustrating seeing what has transpired at the high school the last several months.
“It is heartbreaking,” said Klotz. “We have really fought hard and people have put in a lot of work to put these facilities up there and to see something like this happen is really disappointing.”
The football facilities at FCHS are shared between the high school program and four community teams including midget, bantam, pee wee and the new atom programs.
Through the efforts of volunteers in all five programs the tower was built along with two change rooms (which were also damaged in the fire) and there have been discussions about erecting lights at the field as well.
However, the recurring vandalism and Saturday’s fire have dampened the enthusiasm of some of the volunteers.
“Community people have put an enormous amount of time and money (into the field) to try and give kids in this town things to do,” said Klotz. “To have this happen just feels like they are being kicked when they are down.”
Klotz said the future of the tower is unknown.
There is no insurance to cover the damage at the tower and the change rooms.
“We don’t have the money to replace it,” said Klotz.
Staff Sgt. Glen Haner of the Okotoks RCMP said there has been some progress in the investigation. Haner said the RCMP received some information on Monday morning which should help the investigation.
“We have some suspects to talk to,” said Haner. “At least we have something to go on.”
Haner said he could not say if Saturday’s fire is an escalation of existing vandalism, if it is related to the fire that destroyed the concession stand or if it is a new issue altogether.
Klotz said they will begin cleaning up the mess immediately as the bantam, pee wee and atom programs begin their season this week.
Anyone with information regarding Saturday’s fire can contact the Okotoks RCMP at 938-7046 or Crimestoppers at 1-800-222-8477.