Facts about St. Jude’s

Saturday, Feb. 22, 1997 | 11:59 a.m.

Facilities being built or refurbished amid a recent burst of growth at St. Jude's Ranch for Children in Boulder City:

* TRAINING: St. Timothy's Vocational Training Center, named for the organization's late maintenance foreman Timothy Eckroth, will feature a 9,000-square-foot thrift store, auto body workshop, woodworking shop and a warehouse. Financed by a $250,000 Clark County grant, it is expected to be built by this spring.

* SCHOOL: While many of the children attend public schools, there is a small homebound school on the site for children with learning disabilities. A larger homebound school is under construction and must be completed by April 7 in accordance with a grant from the Wiegand Foundation of Reno.

* KITCHEN: A larger, modern kitchen and dining room is slated to be built this year to replace the one that was built in 1967. St. Jude's is seeking a $1 million Community Development Block Grant from Clark County to build the new facility. The old building, in turn, will be renovated into a canteen and activity center with table tennis and billiards tables.

* MUSEUM: The Ogorek Museum and Training Center, along with an expanded gift shop, is under construction. An adjacent building to display the world's largest car engine is on the drawing board and awaits the identification of a source for $250,000 in funding.

* THERAPY: Residences for on-site therapists have been created by refurbishing two power and water buildings that were donated to the facility by Hoover Dam officials.

* LIBRARY: A new library is planned to replace the small library in the old Spanish mission-style chapel building that was built from three recycled buildings and a World War II parachute drying tower donated many years ago by Nellis Air Force Base.

* RECREATION: The facility's basketball court is in need of fencing and lighting, and the 25-year-old swimming pool is in need of replacement. A natatorium, complete with indoor swimming facilities, is planned for the site.