WINSLOW — Tim McCabe’s been the voice of Winslow High School football for more than a decade. As the public address announcer at Poulin Field, he spent more time than anybody in the rickety old press box that sat above the home field bleachers.

“It was pretty bad,” McCabe said. “It was rotting. There was no rain proofing. That place up there would sway like crazy.”

When the Black Raiders open the 2012 season, McCabe and everyone else in the press box will have new digs. This week, the 136th Engineer Company of the Maine National Guard started work on a new press box at Poulin Field.

“We use it as a training opportunity, to teach skills, as well as a community project,” Staff Sergeant Michael McCormick, a supervisor on the project, said. “It’s a win-win.”

McCormick said most of the work should be complete by the end of next week, although it’s potentially an ongoing summer project.

“When they came to evaluate this project, they were excited because they built similar structures in Iraq,” Winslow athletic director Carrie Larrabee said.

McCabe and Larrabee solicited help from area businesses to keep the project’s costs to a minimum. McCormmack Building Supply provided all building materials at cost, and Beck and Sons is doing the roofing for free. Gregory’s Disposal provided a bin at a discount, and Coutts Brothers installed two new telephone polls to replace a pair that had rotted and could no longer help support the structure. Eagle Rental will provide a 50-foot lift at cost.

The Sukeforth Family Foundation donated $5,000 to cover all the expenses.

“People have been extra generous,” Larrabee said.

Added McCabe: “I didn’t have anybody turn us down.”

Kevin Fredette, Winslow High School’s wrestling coach, and his son, Ben, donated their time to tear the old press box down, McCabe said.

The old press box was built by the Army Corp of Engineers in 1982. That had one floor, with what amounted to a roof deck for the coaching staff. The new press box will have two enclosed floors. On the second floor, there will be booths for both the Winslow and visiting coaching staffs. On the first floor, there will be three booths, so radio crews, the clock operator, and public address announcer don’t interfere with each other.

“It’s nothing fancy, just functional,” McCabe said.

Travis Lazarczyk — 861-9242

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