A.M. Risher pool readies to open Tuesday, shifts days for exercise programs

By Mark Stalcup

Staff Writer

Changes in instructor availability for water aerobics and Zumba have shifted the schedule for exercise programs at the A.M. Risher Pool.

However, despite those few setbacks, things are generally going swimmingly at the Linton facility slated to open Tuesday.

"Water aerobics will now be held at 6 p.m. Monday, Wednesday and Thursday," Pool Board member Tammy Wright explained. "Water Zumba will switch to Tuesdays."

The shift in schedule occurred because Zumba instructor Wanda Silcott couldn't make it to classes proposed for Wednesday evenings.

"The lady that's certified to teach water zumba committed to the pool Sullivan Wednesday so we had to switch to Tuesday," Wright explained.

Zumba will begin next Tuesday.

Initially, the pool's Zumba program, an exercise plan which incorporates dance, including some Latin styles, will only be held one evening per week, Wright said.

"If there's enough interest, we may add a night for water zumba," Wright said. "Probably Fridays, because water aerobics is on the other nights. But we'll have to see what interest is out there."

Linton's Pool Board was initially contacted by Zumba instructor Silcott earlier in the spring.

Silcott, a licensed and insured water Zumba instructor, who holds water Zumba classes at the Sullivan City Pool, requested she be allowed to hold similar classes in Linton.

Eventually, Silcott intends to recruit local participants who can also be trained and take over the program next year, Wright said.

Silcott offered the pool a 30 percent share in admission fees. However, the pool board modified that deal. Silcott must pay the salaries of the guards, $18 per session, up front. Anything she makes above the $18 will be profit, less the 30 percent the pool receives for hosting the sessions, per discussion at May's pool board meeting.

Zumba expands an exercise program which began with the successful return of water aerobics last year.

Low-impact water aerobics, held during the evenings last season on Tuesdays and Thursdays, typically drew around 30 participants, each paying $4 per session.

The revenue brought by two nights of water aerobics during the pool's 2011 season totaled around $1,600, a substantial benefit to the operation, said pool board member Dennis Gentry earlier this month.

That revenue's sufficient enough for the pool to consider continuing operations in a limited capacity once the pool officially closes down its open swimming operations in early August.

Because of the financial success, the pool board plans to expand the fitness program to at least four nights a week, holding sessions from 6 to 7 p.m. Monday through Thursday.

Plans also called for the expansion of water aerobics programs, with new coach Lea Pfaff beginning a high-impact course while Mary Stalcup returned as the low-impact course instructor.

However, Pfaff will be sidelined with surgery through June, forcing the pool to utilize subsitute instructors.

The high-impact aerobics will be faster and more intense, while the low-impact work concentrates more upon exercises done in concert with Styrofoam "noodles."

High-impact water aerobics will likely be held at the western third of the pool and low-impact aerobics at the pool's eastern side.

The pool's operating hours will be one hour shorter than last season for open swimming, set from noon until 6 p.m.

Rates for this season will remain the same as last year's. Of those:

* A family pass will cost $140.

* A student pass will cost $70.

* Daily admission will cost $4.

* Children under six will be charged an admission fee of $1, so long as they are with an adult who pays the full admission price.

* A punch card allowing 20 admissions will cost $65, or $15 off the regular admission price for the same amount of visits.

Pool parties are also presently being booked, Wright said, with a deposit. The parties cost $125 for two hours of swimming for parties of up to 50.

There is an additional charge of $10 per every 10 attendees above 50.

Salaries are set at $6 per hour for bathhouse workers, and $7 for licensed lifeguards. There will be two managers, Katie Abbott and Jill Bohnert, and one assistant manager, Jennie Abbott, Katie's daughter.