Summer’s closing in and the temperature’s rising, but Lawrence County residents can beat the heat, have fun in the sun and stay cool in the pools, all of which are now open.

Tuesday, June 13, 2000

Summer’s closing in and the temperature’s rising, but Lawrence County residents can beat the heat, have fun in the sun and stay cool in the pools, all of which are now open.

Many residents have stayed ahead of the game, spending every day they can at Sta-Tan, Mitch Morgan and South Point Municipal pools since Memorial Day.

"I’ve been coming (to Mitch Morgan) ever since it’s been open," 15-year-old Rodney Damron said. "I come with my girlfriend all the time."

Some eager young swimmers love hanging out at the pools so much that they offer their services for free admission.

Joe Boles, 16, of Ironton, is a regular at Mitch Morgan.

"I’ve been coming here for six years," he said. "I work here and clean up the trash, so I get a free pass. I think it’s worth it for the free admission."

Daily admission at Mitch Morgan Municipal Pool is $3.75 for adults, $3 for any student, and $1 for any child under age 4. Season passes are $75 for one person; $95 for two; $115 for three; $135 for four; and $15 for each additional family member.

Now under new management, Mitch Morgan Municipal Pool isn’t quite the same – it’s even better, manager Tina Tidd said.

"I’ve been more strict with the kids but they love it," Ms. Tidd said. "We have some new rules and I’ve actually had kids come here and say, ‘I like this better.’"

Rules include no profanity, fighting, or underage smoking, she said.

"At this pool, it’s three strikes and you’re out," Ms. Tidd said.

"My goal is for everyone to have a fun, safe summer here," she said. "I want a pool where families can come and (where children) don’t have to worry about being bullied."

Other new attractions at Mitch Morgan include an extended menu at the concession stand and night swims with music provided by a local disc jockey.

Night swims are Mondays and Wednesdays 8-11 p.m.

Regular pool hours are 11 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. Monday through Friday; 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday; and noon to 6 p.m. Sunday. The pool is located on Bob Lutz Drive at Beechwood Park. Residents may call 533-9054 for additional information.

Ironton’s Sta-Tan pool is membership only, but they serve up the summer fun with daily pool hours.

Sta-Tan is open 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. daily except Sundays and Tuesdays, when they are noon to 6 p.m.

Season passes are $150 per person, or $250 for family memberships, two adults and two children, and $10 for each additional family member.

Residents may call 532-1306 for additional information.

A short drive to South Point brings swimmers to the South Point Municipal Pool.

Like Ironton, it hosts night swims Tuesday and Thursday nights, 8-11 p.m.

A unique attraction at South Point is the pool’s water slide, lifeguard Dion Griffith said.

"We get a lot of people here, mostly neighborhood kids, and they’re nice people," he said.

A routine at South Point Municipal is 15-minute pool checks every hour. "When you swim for so long, you may get muscle cramping or just get tired, and the pool check gives the kids a chance to rest," Griffith said.

The riverside location of South Point Municipal offers swimmers an aesthetic environment but residents sometimes have trouble finding the pool, manager Crystal Armstrong said.

"Every time I invite people, they’re like, ‘Where is it?,’" she said.

Any South Point resident in need of directions to the pool can call 377-2811 for directions and information.

Their hours are 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. Monday through Friday; 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday; and noon to 6 p.m. Sundays. Prices for daily admission are: $3.25 for an adult; $3 for any student; and $1 for any child under age 4.

South Point also has season passes for sale.