Football in Harmony Grove’s future

By Eric Moore

LITTLE ROCK — A fter two failed attempts to bring football to Harmony Grove High School in Haskell through a millage increase, community leaders are taking another shot at it.

This time, however, instead of asking the residents to pay higher taxes, proponents of a Cardinal football program are asking for donations. The estimated cost to get the football team running at a peewee level is $10,000, with fundraising efforts taking place this summer.

Registration for the football team will be held this week, with the first held from 5-8 p.m. today at the Haskell Community Center. Registration will also be held from 5-8 p.m. Friday and 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday at 529 East Elm next to the community center. The normal registration fee is $75, but those registering this week will pay $50.

The proposed plan will provide a football team for students in the fourth through seventh grades this fall. The money raised by the various fundraising activities such as a golf tournament, adult softballtournament and raff le will be used to purchase new equipment for students interested in playing football in the fall.

One of the main supporters of bringing football to Harmony Grove is Brian Johnson, who has an idea why it has been diff i-cult getting the measure passed through a vote.

“Most people don’t want a tax increase,” Johnson said. “Most people want a football team, but they don’t want extra taxes to do it.”

Johnson believes that by raising $10,000, he can help jump start the process and have football as a permanent fixture at the school by 2009.

The school voted in a soccer program last year, and although the football team will be playing all away games this fall, Johnson believes the two squads could share the same field in the future.

Another proponent of bringing football to town, Mary Beth Kelloms, cannot comprehend a school without football, and that is why she is so adamant about this endeavor.

“It’s the American way,” Kelloms said. “It’s a traditional sport in all schools. Everyone has to have football, it’s like ice cream.”

In the past, the desire for football has been there, but the opportunity has not, causing more than a few students to transferto another school that has football. Johnson hopes that by bringing football into the small community, it will keep a greater number of students at Harmony Grove.

“We want to give them the opportunity to remain here,” Johnson said. “It’s going to be a process; we’re not going to work wonders in just one year.”

Kelloms said by bringing football to the school it will open other opportunities for students such as cheerleading and band.

“We have an awesome band,” Kelloms said. “But we don’t have a marching band.We want kids to get on the field and experience what we did.”

One of the biggest obstacles for the development of a football team is the lack of knowledge about the team.

Because the measure has been voted down twice Johnson is concerned that students may not be aware that another attempt is being made at bringing football to Harmony Grove.

“We just want to encourage the kids to come play,” Johnson said. “We’re looking for quality coaches [too].”

More information about the Future Cardinals Football Program is available by calling Johnson at (501) 909-1252 or Kelloms at (501) 860-1900.

- emoore@ arkansasonline.com

Tri-Lakes, Pages 61, 64 on 05/15/2008