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Show i State Press i ' , . '-,,!? . " ' :'; I MitJl''" """r"' n'"''," OPENING SET. Tentative plans for the opening of the Utah National Guard Armory, located on Airport Road, include a speech by Utah Governor Scott Matheson. The event will be held in connection con-nection with the Cedar City Birthday Celebration. Dedication beckons Gov. The 130-man Utah National Guard unit based at Cedar City (Headquarters Battery 2nd Battalion 222 Field Artillery) Ar-tillery) will have the dedication of their new armory in conjunction with the Cedar City Birthday Celebration November 11. Capt. John Cox, command administrative ad-ministrative assistant for the battalion, said Governor Scott Matheson is slated to make a visit to the city and dedicate the building for use by the reserve unit. Cox said the building was originally to be completed August 30 but delays have made the November 11 date more feasible. The new building was built out of need, Cox said, "as the old building really wasn't designed for what we were using it for." The old armory, he said, was not able to serve as a storage area, but rather the battalion vehicles had to be stored in St. George and Beaver. The new 22,000 square foot complex will be better suited for a battalion headquarters, he said. The buildings, located near the entrance en-trance to the Cedar City Municipal Airport from Airport Road,- will be the "nerve center for the battalion, encompassing en-compassing from Manti to St. George," Cox said. Included, and completed, in the building is an impressive full sized basketball gymnasium. The drill floor is centrally located in the building with wings of offices and classrooms extending ex-tending north and south from the gymnasium. A kitchen and men's shower areas adjoin the gymnasium-drill floor, as do two equipment storage areas. A vault will hold all weapons, Cox added, and a conference room for battalion meetings is nearby. The fully landscaped armory comes with an 83 foot rifle range. Cox said the range is a "deluxe model," able to be used with weapons up to 30 calibre. The vehicle storage area is able to hold 20 vehicles and has a washing area for cleaning and a two pump fuel dispensing area. Price tag on the soon to be completed project was $711,000, Cox said, with Blackburn and Gower, Cedar City, being the major contractor for construction. con-struction. Plans for the armory were drawn up by local architect John Rowley, he added, following specifications from the U.S. Government. Govern-ment. A special invitation is being given for all former guardsmen to attend the dedication and activities surrounding it. |
