MONTICELLO - The University of Arkansas at Monticello’s football game this Saturday with Henderson State University has been moved from Monticello to Arkadelphia due to a safety issue with the light poles at Convoy Leslie-Cotton Boll Stadium.

The game will kick off at 7 p.m. at Carpenter-Haygood Stadium.

University officials were told Thursday afternoon by the engineering firm Reliapole Solutions, Incorporated that the stadium’s four light poles have small fatigue-related cracks in their base plates.

“We were notified earlier in the week that the light poles might contain a design error,” said UAM Chancellor Jack Lassiter. “We were able to, in cooperation with Monticello High School, retain the services of Reliapole Solutions to do an engineering analysis of the light poles.

“We have been assured that the poles present no eminent danger to our fans and students, but we would rather err on the side of caution and take care of the problem now. The good news is there is a short-term solution. Once the season is over we will undertake a permanent solution to the problem.”

Saturday is Parent-Family Appreciation Day at UAM and Henderson State officials have indicated they will honor UAM season passes, student ID’s and Parent-Family Appreciation Day tickets. Parent’s Day activities will continue as planned beginning at 1 p.m. on Saturday.

"We are sorry for the inconvenience to our fans,” said Lassiter, “but we are grateful to Henderson State for their cooperation and help in a difficult situation. I want to say a special thank you to Henderson President Chuck Welch and Athletic Director Sam Goodwin for accommodating us on such short notice. ”