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0 of 3 Premium Clicks used this month SUBSCRIBE Print + Online Subscriber Activation | Register x Forgot Password | Need an Account? subscribe | newsletter | deals Classifieds Jobs Autos Real Estate FEATURED » NEWS NOW Homeless-serving groups get together ... Hanson Howard Gallery in Ashland features bird art ... Ashland woman trying to save family in Kenya ... Homeless-serving groups get together ... Hanson Howard Gallery in Ashland features bird art ... Ashland woman trying to save family in Kenya ... ASHLAND HIGH SCHOOL AHS breaks ground on new field Supporters come together to celebrate, say thanks Comment By Joe Zavala Ashland Daily Tidings Follow @@Joe_Zavala99 DailyTidings.com By Joe Zavala Ashland Daily Tidings Follow @@Joe_Zavala99 Posted Apr. 15, 2016 at 7:59 PM Updated Apr 17, 2016 at 1:35 PM By Joe Zavala Ashland Daily Tidings Follow @@Joe_Zavala99 Posted Apr. 15, 2016 at 7:59 PM Updated Apr 17, 2016 at 1:35 PM » Social News It was about 2½ years ago, during a 2013 varsity football game at Walter A. Phillips Field, that Ashland High School Athletic Director Karl Kemper was summoned from his seat in section B by his predecessor Jim Nagel, who wanted to show Kemper a text he received from AHS alum and then Major League Baseball pitcher Jeremy Guthrie. That was how Kemper and Nagel first learned that Guthrie was willing to help bankroll a new field for the high school, Kemper shared Friday as he, Nagel and a host of other leaders gathered at Phillips Field to thank the community for supporting the estimated $1.56 million project which will replace the school’s notoriously mushy sod with state-of-the-art synthetic turf. “The field looks beautiful today,” Nagel said during a brief speech at the groundbreaking ceremony, “and it’s almost a shame to put a shovel in it and turn it up.” The operative word was “almost,” because the new field, expected to be completed in time for Ashland High’s fall sports teams to conduct preseason practices in August, will replace one of the oldest grass fields on the West Coast with a synthetic turf by Hellas Construction that will feature the company’s Geo Plus infill, made of ground up cork, coconut fiber and rice fiber. It’s the first organic turf of its kind in Oregon, and it will be lit by a new set of stadium lights. Kemper, standing in front of 13 men and women associated with the project, each in a hard hat and wielding a gold-painted shovel, opened the ceremony by thanking the community for its financial support. “The word of the day is thank you,” he said. “Thank you for being here, thank you for this fabulous community that continues to step up and support kids.” Kemper was only the first of several speakers at the ceremony, which was attended by about 70 community members and students who sat in the stands. Other speakers included Nagel, who led the Grizzly football team to three state titles as head coach, Ashland School District Superintendent Jay Hummel, AHS Principal Erika Bare, varsity football coach Charlie Hall and Hellas business development manager Ben Johnson, who boasted that Ashland is about to get a “more advanced, safer field than the Oregon Ducks.” Jeremy Guthrie’s parents, Steve and Clarice Guthrie, also spoke at the event on behalf of their son, whose $650,000 check arrived earlier this week, according to Ashland Schools Foundation Executive Director Susan Bacon. Guthrie is pitching for the San Diego Padres’ triple-A affiliate and could not attend. “He wants me to let you know that you Ashland High School Grizzlies, he would like you to meet your goals whatever it might be,” Clarice Guthrie said. “Everyone has different goals and he knows that through these teachers here and staff and coaches, they will help you reach those goals. So go Grizzlies.” Topping off the 30-minute ceremony was the groundbreaking itself, and all 13 shovels were used for that. After they were finished, Kemper made good on his longstanding promise that he would kiss the ground if the project ever came to fruition. Construction is expected to begin next week, led by Hellas superintendent Scott Patterson, who happens to be a native of Central Point. His wife, on hand for the ceremony, sounded confident that Hellas will finish the project on schedule. “He works fast,” she said. Once completed, the field will be 65 yards wide, large enough to host prep football, boys and girls soccer and adult league soccer games. It will also be used for Ashland High physical education classes and possibly youth sports, such as Pop Warner. According to Bacon, an original estimate of $1.75 million was chopped significantly by, among other factors, “value engineering” and an in-kind subcontractor gift. Jeremy Guthrie, a former three-sport athlete and valedictorian at AHS, got the project off the ground with his big pledge, and other large donations followed, including a $110,000 gift from Lithia Motors and $30,000 from Sid and Karen DeBoer, and Bryan and Stephanie DeBoer. Also, American Band College donated $50,000, and AHS alum Kevin Hancock $25,000. Also Friday, Bacon announced that the U.S. Soccer Foundation has awarded the Ashland Schools Foundation a $77,127 "Safe Places to Play" grant which will also go toward the field renovation. While most of the project will be funded by donations and grants, the district will cover the replacement of the lights, as well as the costs of architectural work and permits. Joe Zavala is a reporter for the Ashland Daily Tidings. Reach him at 541-821-0829 or [email protected]. Follow him on Twitter at @Joe_Zavala99. By Joe Zavala Ashland Daily Tidings Follow @@Joe_Zavala99 DailyTidings.com By Joe Zavala Ashland Daily Tidings Follow @@Joe_Zavala99 Posted Apr. 15, 2016 at 7:59 PM Updated Apr 17, 2016 at 1:35 PM » Comment or view comments Reader Reaction » STAY INFORMED Email NewsLetter Sign Up Today Sign up for our newsletter and have the top headlines from your community delivered right to your inbox. Southern Oregon Directory Featured Businesses Loading... 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