The Friday night lights at Hastings High School are about to get a little brighter ... literally.

Thanks to a generous donation from the Baum Foundation, our football field and scoreboard are in for a much-needed lighting upgrade. Crews will soon go to work installing new lighting for Baum Stadium at Johnson Field.

Back in late spring, a lightning strike caused damage to several components of the football field. The scoreboard and parts of the aging field lighting system were both affected.

The good news? The damage is being covered in part by an insurance claim, and the Baum Foundation has stepped in to cover the rest. The result: a full lighting revamp that promises better performance, increased reliability and better visibility on game nights.

The athletic and maintenance departments are currently working with contractors to get everything repaired and upgraded in a timely and cost-effective way. If all goes according to plan, the new lights will be up and running before the home opener.