Structural concerns close Winchester gym
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By Carmen Ensinger
A spanner was thrown into the works of the 103rd Annual Winchester Invitational Tournament on the fifth day of the tournament when it was announced that the remaining three days of the tournament would be played in Bluffs.
The announcement was initially made on social media on Thursday morning that “due to unforeseen circumstances, all remaining games of the 103rd Winchester Invitational Tournament will be played at the Bluffs High School Gym starting today, Thursday, Jan. 15.”
Later, Winchester Superintendent Jeff Abell issued the following statement.
“Today, due to structural concerns involving the elementary school gym roof, the district had an architectural team on site to conduct a thorough evaluation,” he said. “After reviewing all available information, the team determined that the gym is not currently safe for occupancy.”
However, the team confirmed that the cafeteria roof is structurally separate from the gym roof and therefore the cafeteria may continue to be used as normal.
“Based on this professional recommendation, the decision has been made to close the elementary gym until further inspections and evaluations can be completed,” Abell said. “As a result, there will be no physical education classes, recess activities, athletic games or practices held in the gym until further notice.”
Abell said the district will provide additional information regarding athletic games and practices as it becomes available.
“We recognize that these necessary schedule changes may cause inconvenience, and we sincerely appreciate your patience and understanding as we work diligently to determine the best and safest path forward,” Abell said. “The safety of our students and staff is always our highest priority.”
