MOUNT COMFORT – As the father of three young sons, Kory Chapman loves watching his boys play T-ball and rec ball at the Mt. Vernon Optimist Club’s sports complex just north of Greenfield.
While coaching his middle son’s pee wee baseball team this year, he noticed three wooden utility poles around one of the ball diamonds were rotting at the bottom, so the experienced lineman looked into what he could do to help.
On Monday, the Greenfield man and a crew of five fellow linemen from NineStar Connect spent nearly six hours removing the wooden poles from one field and adding four new metal utility poles to another.
Chapman commended his employer – NineStar Connect – for donating the materials and labor, since he and his crew were working on-the-clock to complete the project.
“One of our cooperative’s values is giving back to the community, and this is just another example of the things we do to support that,” said Tommy Nance, vice president of operations for the local utility.
Chapman said he was motivated to tackle the project not only to keep the ball fields safe but to support the sports complex where his sons play ball.
“When I saw that the old wooden poles were a safety hazard, I knew I could do something to help with the trucks I have access to,” said the lineman and coach.
Nance said Chapman initiated the project as part of his participation in the Rural Electric Leaders In Training Exchange (RELITE), a two-year professional development program for employees and directors of Indiana’s electric cooperatives.
The program’s curriculum focuses on personal and professional growth, including teamwork, individual discovery and leadership development.
“Part of the program is doing community service projects,” said Chapman, who pitched the idea for the utility pole project to the directors of the Mt. Vernon Optimist Club.
Baseball commissioner Dan Doherty said the service project was a huge win for the club’s sports complex, which sits behind Mt. Comfort Elementary School at 5694 West CR 300N in Greenfield.
“We are extremely grateful to any organization in the community that wants to help beautify our fields,” said Doherty, who helps oversee five diamonds for baseball, softball and T-ball league play.
Chapman commended his employer and crew mates for making the project happen, including Andrew Fields, Brandon French, Ryker Horning, Dusty Mayhugh and Brayden Tincher.
He’s relieved to know the old wooden poles are removed and new metal poles are now in place, having been decommissioned from a previous location.
Nance said the durable metal poles were a worthy investment for the community, especially since it benefits some of its youngest residents like Chapman’s boys, ages 3, 5 and 7.
Chapman said his youngest son will possibly start playing T-ball this fall.
For more information on the Optimist Club’s sports leagues, visit sports.bluesombrero.com/mvoptimist.
