In Other News
Ephrata school bond 'info' opportunities, annual youth chess tournament slated
EPHRATA SCHOOL BOND ‘INFO’ OPPORTUNITIES
EPHRATA – Area residents and voters can learn more about the Ephrata School District’s $75 million construction bond proposal in advance of the Feb. 10 special election.
— The district will host a public town hall session on Wednesday, Jan. 14, at 6 p.m. in the Performing Arts Center at Ephrata High School.
— District superintendent Ken Murray will be available to answer questions and chat informally during a “coffee and cocoa” visit at The Bookery bookstore, 1 Basin St. N.W., on Thursday, Jan. 22, from 8-11 a.m.
— Comprehensive information can be viewed online at TigersVote.org.
In the upcoming election, voters will decide a 25-year school bond measure developed through a community-focused review of Ephrata's school facilities. If approved, the proposition will also qualify the school district for an additional $27 million in state funding.
The monies will finance replacement of the decades-old Grant Elementary and Parkway Intermediate schools with new, modernized buildings and partially renovate and add to Ephrata High School, including construction of a new Performing Arts Center.
For passage, the bond measure requires a 60% approval vote plus “validation” turnout by at least 40% of voters within the school district who cast ballots in the last general election.
Grant County Elections officials will begin mailing ballots to registered voters within the school district on Jan. 21. To be counted, ballots must be received or postmarked by 8 p.m. on Election Day, Feb. 10.
ANNUAL YOUTH CHESS TOURNAMENT SLATED
EPHRATA — Some openings still remain for the 19th annual Waypoint Foundation Scholastic Chess Tournament, scheduled Saturday, Feb. 7, beginning at 8 a.m. at Parkway Intermediate School, 1011 Parkway Blvd., Ephrata.
The free tournament is open to all students in grades K-12 attending public, private, or home schools in Grant and Adams counties. Registration is limited to 100 participants and 25 open spots still remain as of Jan. 8. The registration deadline is noon on Friday, Feb. 6.
A pizza lunch will be provided for youth participants.
There will be five rounds of play with cash prizes awarded up to $500 for first place. The event is also a regional qualifying tournament for state-level high school team and elementary individual tournaments.
For more information, visit the tournament website at https://chessreg.com/waypoint.
