The Dome Sports Center, located at 12733 US 131 just north of Schoolcraft, is set to undergo a significant transformation this summer, bringing exciting new features and enhanced facilities to our community. On July 1, the iconic dome will be deflated, marking the beginning of an ambitious expansion project. By mid-August, a brand-new dome, twice the size of the original, will be inflated, promising to elevate the sports and recreation experience for all visitors.
The new dome will continue to offer amenities such as the indoor driving range, putting area, golf suites, athletic training space, and batting cages. The upgrades will include several new features designed to cater to a wider range of athletic activities and add to user comfort.
Additions include:
Athletic courts: New courts will accommodate various sports, offering more opportunities for basketball, volleyball, pickleball, and other indoor games.
Expanded turf areas: Additional turf will be available for athletic training, ensuring that athletes have ample space to practice and hone their skills.
Large skylight: to provide natural light, creating a bright and welcoming environment.
Air conditioning: For the first time, The Dome will be equipped with air conditioning, allowing year-round use regardless of the weather.
In preparation for this expansion, the crew at The Dome/Next Level Performance in the last year has updated infrastructure to support the new dome. Improvements include expanded and upgraded bathrooms, a facelift for the lobby, and the addition of a community playground on the 30-acre campus.
Despite the upcoming construction, The Dome Sports Center/Next Level Performance will remain open. Next Level Sunshine & Sports will continue without interruption, providing a safe environment for kids to enjoy sports, games, and leadership activities. The outdoor driving range will be fully operational from sunup to sunset, allowing golf enthusiasts to practice their swings in the summer weather.
The community is invited to a July 1 watch party, as the current dome is deflated to make way for the changes. The Dome Sports Center’s Facebook page will provide updates and further announcements about the event.
Just when things were going well Mother Nature delivered some unwanted Hell! My TV warned, “Take cover, right away!” It was evolving into a miserable day.
So I grabbed my lantern and folding chair Headed for the hall, no windows there, Soup was warming in a pan Took it with me, glad it wasn’t still in the can.
Lucky I could see the TV from there Constant weather reports came over the air, Mendon and Colon were mentioned, I know folks there Storms were stirring over the St. Joe Fair.
It hopscotched through Schoolcraft as I started to pray Then wiped-out Oakland Drive and Center on its way, Like toys, huge trees tumbled down It felt like a war all around.
It was on a determined path To flatten everything in God’s wrath, Lives were spared, we’re thankful for that My daughter called me, but there was no time to chat.
That night my Laurie had nightmares Her Mom passed a window, on her chair, It looked like “The Wizard of Oz” As she slurped soup from a pan, without a care.
Some things, of course, can’t be replaced Year of hard work, wiped out in a flash, Folks will start over, with determined grit The problem? Where will they get the cash?
So neighbors and friends, stand tall, don’t be blue Dry your tears, our love goes out to you, The future holds a brighter and happier day Have faith that God will show you the way.
On a sunny Sunday morning, several cars pulled up to my house (they had permission first). I’m blown away with humble thanks. A group from the Vicksburg Ada and the Bridge churches piled out. Toddlers, children, teens, and adults. They came with tools, ready to work. They spread out and took care of overgrown branches, hedges grown too tall, and unwanted trees that were sprouting. They left with everything looking better, and my gratitude for their time and effort.
An 11-year-old, Kelsey, came up on the porch to visit with me. She had a beautiful smile and was doing her share of the work.
I had to wipe some tears for so much kindness. Never could I have accomplished so much.
After raking and trimming, there were tiny yellow flowers that God sent just for fun. Rosebuds were ready to open on a bush. How happy I felt, knowing that there are so many caring people willing to enrich my life. My thanks again to all of you that helped. You know who you are!
As the school year was coming to a close, Schoolcraft students were preparing to go on field trips to zoos and museums, depending on their grade level. In their eighth-grade year, it was the biggest of them all – to Washington, D.C.
This year’s trip, organized as in the past seven years by their school’s administrative assistant, Shannon McDonald, takes place over the course of a week. Early on a Monday morning toward the beginning of May, eighth grade students—alongside their parents and the teachers chaperoning them—meet up at Schoolcraft’s 7-12 campus to board a tour bus and begin the long journey to the nation’s capital. Once the students arrive in D.C., they begin visiting some of America’s most important and popular sites. Over the years, students have ventured to the Capitol, the Lincoln Memorial, the Washington Monument, Arlington National Cemetery and even the White House.
A lot goes into preparing for a trip like this. “We have to make sure that there are fundraising opportunities for our kids so that money isn’t a problem, and everyone is able to go. We have to get kids assigned to hotel rooms, we assign bus seats, and we provide some snacks and make sure all our kids have bottled water. . .” McDonald said. “It takes a full year to organize.”
With all of that to accomplish on top of all the other tasks McDonald has throughout the school year, there is a lot for her to do. Why does the district organize it?
“We do this trip to get our students out of the classroom and allow them to experience the things they have been learning in U.S. history throughout the year and see them all in person.”
The trip to Washington, D.C. is more than educational. “A lot of the kids enjoy seeing things that they might have seen in movies, or they were taught in class,” said McDonald. “The teachers enjoy the trip—especially our social studies teacher this year, Mr. Schook. He loved seeing the kids experience the things he’s been teaching. Sometimes I think the parents enjoy it more than the kids. They get to make memories with their kids—which they love—and see things that they may not have been able to see before.”
This year was especially exciting for the students. Schoolcraft was selected for the honor of placing a wreath at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier in Arlington Cemetery.
To students, teachers, and parents who have the chance to experience the trip in the future, McDonald advises, “Definitely take advantage of it . . . I told this year’s eighth graders how much walking we would be doing and ‘no matter how tired you are, take a few minutes to rest, but push through, because you are never going to get to experience this with your friends again, or your parents with your group of friends. Just take it all in and absorb it, every second of it.’”
