Pump breakdown delays opening of Gilley Pool

This time breaking news is about something breaking. Those waiting to dive into the Gilley Pool will have to wait a little longer.

The pool will not open this Saturday as advertised. The opening date has been pushed back to next Saturday, May 26.

According to McMinnville Parks and Recreation director Carlene Brown, the pool is enduring pump problems that will push back the opening.

?We?ve having a problem with some of our equipment so we won?t be able to open as we had scheduled,? said Brown. ?The pump just stopped Tuesday at about 3 p.m.?

The pump circulates and filters the water to keep it clean. When the pump stopped, it was removed to find the stainless steel shaft had broken. Tennessee health regulations require all public pools to have a pump. No pump means no swimming.

Within the next week, the pump will be fixed and the opening day festivities will begin next May 26 at 10 a.m. and last until 4 p.m.

Pool staff members have been busy calling everyone who has purchased a pool pass and have asked the schools to make the announcement to their students.

Opening day activities will still include beach volleyball, putt-putt golf, a hidden talent contest, a freeze dance competition, a wet T-shirt relay contest, a scavenger hunt, ugliest dive, most creative dive, cannonball contest, belly flop contest and a visit from Gilley the Frog.

Water aerobics classes will begin May 29 at 9 a.m. For more information call 473-1212.