New problems with the Winchester Grade School gym roof has prompted officials to move the rest of the Winchester Invitational Tournament to the Bluffs gym.
The tournament began Saturday, and play continued through last night, with no apparent issues.
But, Winchester school superintendent Jeff Abell announced this afternoon in a press release that concerns have developed over the structural integrity of the Winchester gym roof.
Abell says one of the staff noticed the ceiling of the roof didn’t look quite right.
He showed the pictures to Abell, who immediately called an architect.
He says an architectural team was on site today to conduct a thorough evaluation. Abell says this team determined the gym is not currently safe for occupancy.
He says they aren’t sure what the problem is, but until a proper assessment is done…the gym should be shut down.
He says the same team found that the cafeteria roof, which is separate from the gym roof is safe and the cafeteria will continue to be used.
Abell says the grade school gym will be closed indefinitely, until further inspections and evaluations can be completed. He says all activities at the gym have been scratched until further notice.
The gym was used for the Winchester Invitational Tournament for the first time in 1960, after it was built a couple of years earlier.
It has been renovated and repaired several times since, including new lighting and floor in the last 10 years.