Groundbreaking for the New Youth Club

by Rachel Dahl -- On a spring day complete with Northern Nevada weather County Commissioner Pete Olsen called fit only for baseball, local officials and state dignitaries gathered to break ground at the site of the new William N. Pennington Youth Center. At the site located just west of the City/County gym on Venturacci Lane, Olsen welcomed the crowd saying, “what a blessing the Pennington Foundation has been to this community.” Joined by fellow commissioner Bus Scharmann, city council members Kelly Frost, James Richardson, and Bob Erickson, Mayor Tedford, members of the youth club board and staff, and congressional representatives, the community thanked Richard Stoltz and Racquel Bridgewater who attended the event on behalf of the Pennington Foundation, which provided the majority of the funding for the youth center. “Without the Pennington Foundation, this day would not happen, along with a couple other days in this community. This is a legacy that many children, many who aren’t born yet, will get to enjoy this facility. We are very, very thankful for what they’ve done for us, and for future generations here in Fallon,” said Olsen. “I would be remiss if I didn’t mention the Mayor’s dedication to children and to all the city folks who all have their heart in this project. A special thanks to the people who’ve kept at this project for the youth club, the people who have worked so hard with so little to give so much to our children in this community. They deserve a heartfelt thanks. Many of them in their profession careers have had other things to do with their time and that dedication is not lost on this crowd – we know how much you have done,” said Olsen. The facility will be a block building of approximately 15,000 square feet and will be specifically designed to meet the current and future needs of the youth of the community. It will have a large multipurpose room with a stage platform and kitchen facilities to support the nutrition program for the youth center, learning rooms with computers, a recreation center, art room, teen center, meeting rooms, hangout areas, and administration and conference rooms to administer the Youth Club programs. There will also be a separate playground and outdoor recreational area for the youth to enjoy. The site will enjoy an expansive parking area as well as a drop off and pick up zone for the children. The total estimated project cost is $5,845,048.26, and the contract for construction was awarded in March by the City of Fallon to K7 Construction, Inc., of Reno, Nevada. Other support for the Youth Club comes from the City of Fallon which contribute the land, utility meter and hookup fees, landfill fees, and building permit fees, while Churchill County made a significant cash contribution to the project. The county contribution will be based on funding made available when Enel Green Power, the Stillwater geothermal company, chose not to request a sales and use tax abatement this year. Mayor Tedford thanked Terry Page of Enel for his assistance in project, and then expressed the gratitude of the community for the Pennington Foundation for making first, the new senior center a reality and now this facility for the youth. Tedford talked about reading about William Pennington and seeing many parallels between his life and the community of Fallon. Pennington was born in Kansas to parents who were farmers, he faced great struggles, served in the military, and eventually came to Nevada where he spent 50 years building his successful businesses.                       “We would not be here without him,” said Tedford. “We are proud that this center will be built and our youth center will expand mightily.” He said that the youth club staff and children have been functioning in a 3,000 square foot building and they are bursting at the seams and there is a waiting list. “I see great things and we are very excited to see this groundbreaking and see it as only the start. We will be back here in early 2020 back here with the same folks to celebrate with us when this building is done, and we will honor what Mr. Pennington has done for this state and this community.”     Support local, independent news – contribute to The Fallon Post, your non-profit (501c3) online news source for all things Fallon. Never miss the local news -- read more on The Fallon Post home page.