(Posted July 23, 2015)
By Kristy Zurbrick, Madison Editor
Major improvements continue at the Madison County Fairgrounds. First came the Eby Youth Arena and the Coughlin Community Center. Then came the Beck’s Hog Barn. Next up, a new equine facility.
At this year’s Madison County Fair, businessman Tom Coughlin pledged seed money for a building project to benefit the youths who take horses to the fair.
“He said he was proud to be affiliated with the Community Center and wants to see the improvements continue,” said Paul Gross, Madison County commissioner.
With that interest shown, the county commissioners agreed to extend their 2-for-1 fundraising program by which the county matches $2 for every $1 donated privately to fairgrounds projects.
Because the equine project is in the very early idea stage, no plans are in place as to what form it will take, Gross said.
“Probably as a practical matter, the facility won’t be ready by the 2016 fair. It needs to be designed, and we don’t want to see the volunteers who worked so hard on the other buildings burn out. We’ll shoot for 2017,” he said.
Tax deductible donations can be made to the “Madison County Junior Fair Sale Committee Building Fund,” c/o of Merchants National Bank, P.O. Box 650, London, OH 43140. Donations also may be made through the Madison County Future Inc. community improvement corporation (CIC); call David Kell at the Madison County Chamber of Commerce, (740) 852-2250.
