Calico building dream a reality
By Becky Zimmer
Journal Editor
For two years Calico has been trying to raise money for a new gymnasium to house the Calico Gymnastics Club.
As of May 3, they are getting their wish with a new deal struck with the city.
The building itself will be paid for by Calico, while the city is going to cover the cost of the lot.
When speaking with Director of Leisure Services, Darrell Lessmeister, it was discussed to have Calico as part of the new fieldhouse. However, Calico understandably wanted something a little more permanent and something that was available sooner rather than the 5-10 years it will take to get the fieldhouse up and running.
Since the city is covering the cost of the lot through a Community Service contract, the building will be available for city programs for 183 hours a year for 10 years to cover the lot cost of $73,280.
Calico will still have priority over outside bookings but there are times when the building will be free for those 183 hours for community use, says Lessmeister.
Club president, Carolyn Janidlo-MacLean, says they are very grateful for the city’s involvement in the deal.
“As much as we’re benefiting from it because we’re moving forward with the building, it’s also going to benefit the youth of Humboldt and surrounding area.”
The Calico building will be able to be booked using a similar joint use agreement that is used for school gym bookings.
This will expose young people to the sport of gymnastics by making the facility more available, says Janidlo-MacLean.
For the city, Lessmeister says this is a win/win for them and other community organizations to have the space available.
“Anytime we can partner with any community organization that provides this type of services is a benefit to us and the community,” says Lessmeister.
With gymnasts learning to swing on bars and jump on spring boards, the building has some specific requirements to ensure a safe environment for the students.
Janidlo-MacLean says that the need for a new building really took off when they moved from their space in the mall to their current home.
As of Jun. 25, Calico will move from their current location into their temporary home at the curling club until they can move into their new building on Oct. 1 which will be located a couple of lots down 4th Ave.
Calico sends three to Best of the West
By Christopher Lee
Journal Reporter
Calico Gymnastics Club sent three of their athletes to Delta, BC to compete for Team Saskatchewan at the Best of the West Gymnastics Festival from May 5-8.
Heather Graf, Amber Niekamp, and Paige Wuchner represented Calico and Saskatchewan at the meet where the three competed incredibly hard.
Niekamp finished the week with a ninth place showing on the vault, a seventh place showing on the bars, an eighth place showing on the beam and a 13th place showing on the floor routine, which was good enough for a seventh place finish in the all around standings.
Graf enjoyed a successful event on the vault picking up a silver medal before finishing 12th on the bars, seventh on the beam and eighth on the floor en route to a ninth overall finish.
Wuchner picked up a 12th place finish on the vault, a ninth place finish on the bars, an 11th place finish on the beam and an eighth place finish on the floor to pick up an all around finish on tenth.
The girls had a short turnaround as they returned home and had less than a week to prepare with the rest of their Calico teammates for the provincial championships taking place May 12-15 in Yorkton.
