By Dewey Terrill
JC Post
Demolition of the former Junction City High School began with the Deever Building portion of complex. That structure served as the school district's administration building for many years before being incorporated into the high school operation.
David Wild, USD 475 Chief Operations Officer, said the work will continue from the south to the west on the demolition site. "Just to let the public know, we'll be salvaging some bricks from the old high school and giving them to the Geary Community Schools Foundation for resale." Wild added that there have been many requests for bricks from the old school.
Demolition of the former JCHS is projected to be completed in August, and possibly earlier. Ark Demolition of Tulsa, OK is handling the project. They are a subcontractor of Hutton Construction.
The concrete grandstand for the Al Simpler Stadium at the old JCHS site will be torn down but the turf for the football field and the adjacent running track will be left in place. The tennis courts on the west side of the complex and two small classroom buildings near the west side of the former school building will remain. Cost estimate for the demolition is $2.7 million.
The plan is to return the property to grade and then sell it to the city so a future sports complex can be developed there, along with a possible new public library.