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Light duty

  • Published
  • By Mike W. Ray
  • Tinker Public Affairs
TINKER AIR FORCE BASE, Okla. --  
A light pole blew over in high winds April 27, destroying all eight lights that were attached to a double crossbar at the top of the pole and closing Tinker athletic fields.

All of the light poles at the four softball fields were dye-tested for metal fatigue, 72nd Air Base Wing Safety Officer Steve Serrette said Monday. Nine of the 14 poles that had double crossbars were found to be cracked; consequently, all 14 poles were taken down.

"Because they all were made by the same manufacturer at probably the same time, it would just be a matter of time before the remaining five exhibited the same problem as the other nine," Serrette explained.

All 14 poles probably will be replaced, Serrette said Tuesday. None of the 10 poles with lights mounted on just one crossbar, nor the six poles on the football/soccer field, failed the dye test, he added. All of the light poles at the football and softball fields were installed after the May 3, 1999, tornado which "tore that section of the base apart," recalled Lt. Col. Ralph Hawkins, commissioner of the base flag football league and of the co-ed softball program, too.

Hawkins canceled an intramural co-ed softball season plannedfor April and May, because of rainy weather and the damaged lights. In addition, flag football games slated to be played in the outfield of softball field #2 were postponed May 1 and again May 8 because of the downed light pole. However, the Reserve Center on Douglas, across the street and east of Tinker, will allow Tinker to use the football field behind their building; the playoff schedule was still being negotiated at presstime.

Spring flag football was moved to the softball field after the Safety Office closed the football field March 9 because of "hazardous conditions," including a leaking water line, potholes and uneven patches in the playing area.