Donations sought for Basin’s pool project

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BY BARBARA ANNE GREENE

With news that the town can’t apply for a grant from the Daniel’s Fund for the pool, the Basin Rec is asking for donations from alumni. 

Former high school English teacher and Cloud Peak principal Becky Allred came up with an idea to reach out to former students of the schools. She hopes that each former student will donate to help reach a goal of $25,000. 

The town of Basin put out a request for bid (RFB) and bids were opened on Oct. 1. The town engineering firm, Eagle Engineering & Surveying, reported that one bid came in. It was for nearly $212,000, which is slightly over the $200,000 estimate the town received. 

The pool was built in the early 1960s and created many memories for those that swam in it. A post asking for pool memories appeared on the Basin Bobcats/Riverside Rebels Facebook page. 

Here are some of the responses. 

Gwen Hopkin Cox said, ”I remember the early morning swimming lessons and sitting there shivering on the side with our legs dangling in the water. And had to get chores all done so we could get to the pool at 1 to be with our friends and playing shark.” 

Mindy Young: “I remember playing shark! And having Terry Davis lay on the bottom of the pool waiting to be rescued for lifesaving class!” 

Vi Richards: “I spent almost every summer afternoon at the pool. Always thought the lifeguards were heroes. Trying to do a full lap without taking a breath. LOL. I loved the diving boards. A few of us would always challenge the other to learn a new dive. Sunbathing on the lower deck ... the bats on the side of the chimney were an issue every few years.”

Thoughts and memories like this are what Allred hopes will motivate donations. She said, “We are asking former students to donate $20 (or more). The class that donates the most will get a plaque on the lifeguard stands.” 

Allred said people should put their class’s graduating year on the memo line of their checks. Checks should be made out to Basin Rec Swimming Pool Fund. They may be mailed to the town at PO Box 599 or to Allred at PO Box 577, Basin, WY 82410.

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