Big George ups donation to $1.6 million

The principals at Big George Ventures changed their minds and decided not to give Douglas County $1 million to complete the track at Douglas High School.

They want to donate $1.6 million instead.

"Originally, the whole plan was to put in artificial turf," said Big George project manager Robbe Lehmann. "Big George prides itself in being an environmentally-friendly company and we want to further the goal. We just wanted to help and artificial turf is better than lawn. In keeping with what we want to do, $1 million wasn't enough to finish the project."

Lehmann said it will take $1.6 million to do the job the way they want.

"We want to step up and finish it off," he said.

The Douglas County School Board accepted the $1 million donation from the Minden-based Big George Ventures Feb. 2 for completion of an all-weather track and installation of a synthetic turf football field. In taking the donation, the board also agreed to name the track and field complex after Big George Ventures. The company now wants to remove the obligation of having its name for signage.