New addition at Benton Dist. 47 nears completion

Ask anyone around Benton over 30 years old if they knew that NBA basketball hall of fame player, coach and television analyst Doug Collins and widely acclaimed actor and Oscar nominee John Malkovich were both from here, and you'll probably get an answer in the affirmative.
But for those who don't, they soon will, thanks to school board members of Benton Grade School District No. 47. The school district soon will begin utilizing the nearly completed Doug Collins and John Malkovich Event Center, located on the northeast corner of the Benton Middle and Elementary school campus.
"When we saw the need for expansion a couple of years ago, the school board members decided to go forward with plans to build a much-needed events (facility) where students in grades K through eight could finally have a large enough gym for athletic purpose as well as a stage for concerts, plays and other activities that were previously held in the limited confines of the middle school cafeteria," Superintendent Dr. Jay Goble said.
According to Buddy Jones, site superintendent for Murphysboro-based Fager-McGee Commercial Construction, the primary contractor on the $35 million project, the event center is just a few weeks away from completion.
"We should be handing over the keys to Superintendent Goble with the next couple of weeks," Jones said.
Jones said the event center gives the school district an additional 18,000 square feet, which includes seating for 1,100 people and a large, 40-foot wide stage for musicals and plays. 
Goble says he looks forward to utilizing the new addition.
"We have plans to start using the facility as soon as we can take occupancy," he said. "It's very appropriate that the board members choose to honor two of Benton's favorite sons, Collins and Malkovich, in this way. And although everyone in Benton loves sports dearly, we're probably most excited about the new stage with its top-notch sound and lighting systems."
While nothing has been confirmed yet, Goble said that the board plans to schedule an official dedication in the future -- hopefully at a time when both Collins and Malkovich have a gap in their schedules, allowing them to be here for the occasion."
When Malkovich was told of the events center being named for he and Collins, the gifted actor replied via social media, "I'm sure there's some teachers turning over in their graves."