The Star - News, views and advertising of the Grand Coulee Dam Area

Get out your sledge hammer and gold paint, you’ll need it Aug. 27.

That’s the day set aside by the Grand Coulee Dam School District for a special “golden sledgehammer” ceremony connected with the demolition of A.E. Wright Elementary School.

At 10 a.m., Monday, Aug. 27, friends of Wright, interested citizens, teachers and former students will get an opportunity to say a few words about their experiences at the school, and maybe even take a whack with a sledge hammer.

Members of the Wright family might be invited to attend, Superintendent Dennis Carlson stated last week.

Wright was built in 1949, and named after A.E. “Bud” Wright, one of the principals of the school.

The district plans to place Wright’s flagpole, which was dug up recently, someplace within the new K-12 complex with an appropriate plaque about Wright Elementary.

Crews from IRS Environmental will have completed hazardous material removal by the 27th, and Elder Demolition will begin the process of tearing the building down.

The building will be down, debris removed, and the site ready for construction by Oct. 13, according to the district’s contract with Elder Demolition.