Boone County group makes outstanding progress on school renovation – Community Matters

BY DAN TAYLOR FOR COAL VALLEY NEWS

This article was originally published in the Coal Valley News on October 17, 2018 as part of The Hub Energizing Entrepreneurial Communities Program Coordinator Dan Taylor’s regular Community Matters column. See the article on the Coal Valley News site here. 

There is something happening in Nellis!

Since their grand opening and ribbon cutting on June 2 of this year, the BARN Community Center, at 179 Memorial Drive in Nellis, has been hard at work.

This fantastic community group, who are currently remodeling the old Nellis Elementary School into a community space, have big plans for this project.

Recently, I talked with Anita Perdue, with BARN (which stands for Brushton, Ashford, Ridgeview, Nellis), who shared these plans with me.

The group is primarily focused on the remodel of the building from now until the end of the year, working on phase two, which is nearing completion. This will make four additional rooms available for rent, by the end of the year, to sustain the community center project and bring needed services to the B.A.R.N. area.

They are hoping for some private businesses, social services, health clinics, non-profits, and more to fill the space, anything to help people in their community.

One thing they can currently share is that a library/computer lab will be coming to the space, now that they have successfully received some grant money to make that happen. The local 4-H is already planning to start meeting at the library space next year.

Their clothing closet is now open for both donation and use. Just contact the BARN Community Center Facebook page for more information.

BARN is also working with the Madison-Danville Jaycees club (Junior Chamber of Commerce) to recruit four additional jaycees to the program and host them at their building over the next year.

And speaking of the Jaycees, BARN has some October events coming up soon as well! BARN and the Madison-Danville Jaycees will host a Haunted House on Friday, Oct. 19 and Saturday, Oct. 20, from 7 until 11 p.m. each night. There is a $5 admission, as a fundraiser for BARN, and there will be concessions available.

During the day on Saturday, Oct. 20, BARN is hosting a Trunk or Treat from 4 to 6 p.m., as well.

So, come on out and support, have a little fun and bring the kids!