Martha carnival raises funds for new playground

BARBOURSVILLE -- Martha Elementary students in Barboursville are one-step closer to having a new playground for their nearly completed school after students, parents and teachers raised almost $4,000 Saturday afternoon at their annual carnival.

While the Martha Elementary School is slated to be completed later this month, students and parents have been holding events all year to fund the playground that is estimated to cost over $100,000. Carnival Coordinator Holly Adkins said the kids and Parent-Teacher Association have raised about $50,000 for the project. The school has not yet decided on a final playground design, Adkins said.

More than 400 people attended the carnival, which featured games, raffles and activities for the whole family. While children bounced around on the inflatable rides outside or played games in the school, parents tried to win raffled gift certificates donated by several local businesses and restaurants in the gymnasium. Hot dogs, popcorn and nachos were available for hungry carnival goers.

The carnival marks one of the last events to be held in the Martha Elementary School. Soon, Neighborgall Construction will demolish the school and begin paving new parking lots in the summer. Adkins said the event was one of the last opportunities for the community to get together and have fun in the old school.

"We're definitely going out with a bang. We're having an old fashioned carnival to celebrate the long history of the school," Adkins said.

"The kids are looking forward to the new school but they're feeling sad about leaving the old school," said Amy Shull, Martha's 2008-2009 PTA president.