Thursday, August 27, 2015 TheAppalachianOnline.com
Emma Kovasckitz
State Farm Fields benched for two years Located behind the student parking lot, the State Farm Fields begins construction
by Samuel Ingles Intern News Reporter
S
tate Farm Fields will undergo multiple renovations that will improve the fields for the benefit of students in the coming years. State Farm Fields, once a farm that was used primarily for dairy and feeding the students of Appalachian State, now serves as athletic fields for students who participate in intramural and club sports offered through University Recreation. Director of University Recreation Joe Carter said that Club teams, such as men and women’s Rugby, men’s and women’s Lacrosse,and men’s and women’s Soccer, will not be affected by
these renovations since they will be using the already renovated lower fields and game fields on the northern side of the river. According to Carter, the fields lie within a floodway, so no other buildings or factories can be built within the floodway. He said the first of the two projects is the Stream Bank Renovation project. This project includes intentional rock placement in the stream, folding the river banks back to help with erosion, planting of native plants, wetlands enhancement, relocating sections of the Greenway Trail, and the overall improvement of water quality for the stream. The project is funded by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Clean Water Committee, Town of
Boone and Appalachian State. The first project is estimated to be completed by early October. The second project is the Field Project. Carter said the approval of the Stream Bank project provided an opportunity for a partnership to move forward and make use of the materials from Stream Bank project. Next week the university will begin underground trenching for new lights. “We would get about two foot of candlelight from our old light posts,” Director of University Recreation Joe Carter said. “Very inadequate.” Carter said that in the early 2000s, the fields on the northern side of the river were renovated to allow
SEE STATE FARM PAGE 2
Smart meters installed in Boone
Justin Perry
Staff Reports
Krista Gilbert
Downtown Boone received smart meters installed by IPS Group Inc. in March of this year. According to the company’s frequently asked questions page, the smart meters can accept credit and debit cards in addition to providing parking data and run at a rate of a $1 per hour and have a two-hour limit on parking. The meters took in a net $73,262 from April to June, according to an article published by High Country Press last week. Of that amount the money was distributed between credit card fees, Town of Boone, and McLaurin Parking Services, the company manages the meters.
Stein Hoisting Competition see page 6