A Greene County youth football coach wants White Hall to adopt no-smoking rules at football fields after complaints about marijuana and cigarette smoke.
WHITE HALL — A Greene County youth football coach is asking for rules to be implemented to prevent smoking around the fields used to play flag and tackle football after complaints about the smell of marijuana and cigarettes during games.
Tyler Lockhart, coach of the North Greene Knights youth football league, said he and other adults previously have smelled marijuana around the fields.
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After making a post regarding smoking at the field and reiterating that the use of marijuana was not permitted at the fields and authorities would be called if it were to continue, Lockhart began getting more complaints about smoking, in general, he said.
"We were smelling marijuana, but I didn't know who was smoking it, so I made that post letting everyone know that it wasn't allowed and next time the cops would be informed," Lockhart said. "Then, in the comments, it became about cigarettes."
While smoking cigarettes in outdoor public places is not illegal, Lockhart and others would like to see rules implemented at the Custer Recreational Park fields that would prohibit smoking there, he said.
He doesn't know what those rules would look like, but he wants to begin working with city and park officials on a policy, he said.
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"I just think we need to do something," Lockhart said. "Last year during tackle (football), we had a kid who had an asthma attack after inhaling cigarette smoke. I want to prevent other kids and adults from having asthma attacks because of smoke."
There are rules in place at other sports fields that could be implemented, Lockhart said.
Because the games are limited to Saturdays, the rules could apply only when children are present, he said. Or it could be a ban on smoking within the park except for a designated area, he said.
"I don't know what they can or will do, but I want to try to address it," Lockhart said.
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Lockhart plans to contact the city and the parks and recreation board to begin discussions about the issue, he said.
"I just don't want a parent or child who is allergic to have something happen," Lockhart said. "I'm hoping since it is banned in Roodhouse, it's something we can do here."
Samantha McDaniel-Ogletree has been a reporter for the Journal-Courier since May 2014. She joined the staff after graduating from Eastern Illinois University. The Cahokia native worked with her school newspaper in various editor roles.
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