PRJH beautification project moves forward

PRIEST RIVER — Priest River Junior High’s beautification project has been moving forward at a rapid pace. 

The project was recently brought before the Priest River City Council.

Priest River Mayor Jim Martin voiced support for the project, which will transform the front lawn of the junior high. Visible from Highway 2, PRJH is a Priest River landmark. Once dominated by towering trees, the lawn sits vacant after a freak wind storm August 2009.

The project will revamp the area with landscaping such as tress and shubs, a designated park area, water feature and large rock to display the PRJH insignia.  A new and enclosed pole to allow the flag to be displayed at night is also in the works along with improved lighting and painted trim for the school building itself.

 “Thousands of people drive through and the junior high is the first building of education that you see,”  Rusty Pavey, project organizer, said. “We want to do this not only for the school but for the city, and this is truly a case where beauty is coming from the inside out.”

Pavey and fellow committee members Cliff Ackerman, Dana Douglas, Mike McGuire, and Gary Go have been meeting on a regular basis to generate business and community support.

Hill’s Resort is a big supporter of the project, Pavey said, adding the idea is to fundraise by sending students from the high school to work on the resort and golf course, in return earning money for the project.

 A total of 50 students will be selected to make the trip as soon as the snow completely melts.

“It’s important the kids have ownership in the project,” he said. “That it’s not just given to them and they understand the goal is to do something for someone else.”

A sign the high school students are showing by donating their time toward a school from which  they already graduated.

Hill’s decided to take the student work idea a step further and has gotten other resorts and golf courses to get involved as well. 

The project, which is projected to be completed by June, is completely tax-free and being done at no cost to the school district, Pavey said.

Some of the other business include the local branches of banks in the Priest River area.   Accounts at Panhandle State Bank, US Bank and Wells Fargo have been started with several hundred dollars, which the banks will match.

Donations can be made at all three under the account:   PRJH Landscape Beautification Project.

Committee members meet at noon on Tuesdays at The Loft.  Meetings are open to the public and support or comments regarding the project are welcomed.