4/30/2011

By TIM UNRUH

Salina Journal

LURAY -- Divine intervention may have contributed to the Luray school buildings being put back to work.

A preacher from McAllen, Texas, will meet with folks in the Luray community at 6 p.m. Tuesday at the school to outline plans to transform the property into a college for missionaries and a place for summer Bible camps.

The Rev. Ralph Cotterill, of Stream of God Ministries, purchased the school in March from the Luray Community Foundation, said Charma Craven, a founding board member.

She was among community members who were concerned about what would become of the school, which was closed in May 2010, the casualty of a land transfer from the Russell County school district to the Sylvan Grove school district.

"I was proactive. I didn't want this building to become a warehouse, like a lot of other towns," Craven said.

Luray attorney Jack O'Leary, a foundation board member, is a neighbor to the former Luray-Lucas school and is "100 percent in support" of Cotterill's endeavors in the town of 200 people.

"It's a good cause and it's going to be a big boost to Luray," O'Leary said. "This could be our home run finally, in theory."

'Aesthetically pleasing'

Cotterill has hired a landscape architect, Craven said, and he's looking to hire construction workers to turn the 1920s stone shop building into a "bungalow" for his family, which includes eight children.

Another metal building will become two condominium units, Craven said. O'Leary assumes the school will include a dormitory. Bible camps may begin as soon as late May, Craven said.

"I think it's going to be an incremental process, to get the buildings where he wants," O'Leary said. "He will start with summer camps and move it on into the ecumenical."

The football and baseball fields and a practice field will become a park.

"(Cotterill) wants everything to be aesthetically pleasing," Craven said. "He talked about putting in a pond with plastic liners and a fountain."

Cotterill pursued some property for horses and an archery range, she said, but the owner wouldn't sell. Cotterill is also looking for homes for employees.

Craven expects to learn more details at the Tuesday meeting.

Cotterill couldn't be reached Friday. An explanation of his "evangelistic ministries" can be found at streamofgod.com.

After the school closed, the Sylvan Grove district gave the Luray property to the city, Craven said, which later gave it to the foundation.

Locals were discussing whether to pursue housing an alternative school on the grounds, selling it on eBay or just tearing it down, Craven said.

While surfing the Internet, she learned of Cotterill's search and got in touch.

"He had gone to Iowa to look at school buildings and was going to look at the Burr Oak school. He came down to Luray," she said.

To protect the town, Craven attached some conditions to the sale.

"I put it on the deed that if he would not do anything with it for 12 months, or if he went belly up and left town, the school reverts back to us," she said.

The purchase price wasn't released, but Craven said it "wasn't a great amount."

The foundation wanted to help Luray by bringing jobs to town, O'Leary said, and didn't pursue a big check.

"I think it makes sense to give a pretty good deal. We don't want an empty building in Luray," he said. "Our goal is to never get it back."

n Reporter Tim Unruh can be reached at 822-1419 or by email at tunruh@salina.com.

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