Handicap Parking Added For D-1 Wrestling District At Neligh

Handicapped wrestling fans will have additional parking for the Class D-1 district meeting this weekend at Neligh-Oakdale. 

Simon Beacom, a sophomore at Pope John, received permission from Neligh-Oakdale administrators to put up additional no parking signs in front of the Elmer Lindahl gym for Friday and Saturday's meet. The entire east side of the steps in front of the school are now reserved for vehicles with handicapped parking permits. 

Beacom is the son of N-O Athletic Director Ron Beacom and often helps both handicapped and elderly fans into sporting events at Neligh-Oakdale. While attending Neligh-Oakdale in junior high, Beacom said he spent a great deal of time on similar projects and recognized the need for more parking for the district meet.

"I saw a need for parking in the year's past as we hosted the Neligh-Oakdale Invite," Beacom said. "In the past for my FCCLA project, I used cones to block an area off. It worked well, so I saw the need this year and thought it should be done."

Instead of cones like before, Beacom had Blackburn Manufacturing make signs. Beacom braved the cold and hard ground Thursday night hammering the signs into the ground in preparation of the meet, which begins at 3 p.m. on Friday.

"I've helped handicapped constituents into games a lot, and I've noticed issues walking them in from the corner," he said. "The spots were limiting with just three, and there will be many more who need handicapped parking at this meet. These 14 spots will likely be filled."

​Teams competing at the D-1 meet are Ainsworth, Burwell, Central Valley, Clearwater-Orchard, Elgin Public/Pope John, Elkhorn Valley, Elwood, Franklin, Fullerton, Guardian Angels Central Catholic, Harvard, Lutheran High Northeast, Neligh-Oakdale, Niobrara/Verdigre, Osmond, Pleasanton, Riverside, Twin Loup, Weeping Water, West Holt and Wisner-Pilger.