Area high school football teams and marching bands are dealing with extreme heat as they begin practices in preparation for the upcoming football season.
The Kirk Academy Raiders football team began fall camp Monday at the school’s practice field. Coaches have set up water stations for players that need water that can be accessed at any time during practice.
Second-year KA Head Coach Mike Beagle has put his team through four practices as of Tuesday afternoon and has been pleased with the players' efforts during two-a-days.
“Our guys have held up remarkably well,” Beagle said. “The rain got us Monday, but we were able to get back on the grass Tuesday morning. We have made sure they have had a lot of water, Powerade, Popsicles and other ways to hydrate available.”
Beagle added that several players have been put through ice baths to help cool them off following a day of practice.
The Grenada High School Marching Band is also practicing - inside and outside - with its more than 250 members participating. Directors begin the morning out from 8 a.m. until noon with members outside on the practice field. After lunch, members are taken inside from 1:30 p.m. until 3:30 p.m. The day concludes outside from 3:30 p.m. until 5 p.m.
A fourth straight heat advisory first issued last Saturday was set to expire at 7 p.m. Tuesday. A fifth advisory was issued at 2:54 p.m. Tuesday and is set to expire at 7 p.m. Wednesday. Air temperatures are ranging in the low to mid-90s with heat indexes reaching as high as 110 degrees. Highs Wednesday through Saturday for Grenada are forecasted at nearly 100 degrees. Sunday’s high is forecasted at 93 degrees with a cool down on Monday set for 86 degrees.
