By Michael Butler

Recently, Tallassee City Schools Superintendent Dr. Brock Nolin spoke of the likelihood of having commencement exercises at a newly turfed J.E. “Hot” O’Brien Stadium. Those odds have dropped.

On Tuesday, Nolin said on WTLS that he is already planning on moving Tallassee High School graduation elsewhere.

“By contract, the date to be completed is by April 18. That’s just not going to happen,” Nolin said. “I mentioned the possibility of our auditorium. If you divide our senior class, which is pretty large, that would be about four tickets per kid. It got some parents concerned. I got some phone calls and emails.

“I contacted the City of Wetumpka, who owns the Wetumpka football field. Our graduation date does not coincide with Wetumpka or anybody else, so I went ahead and secured that facility for both Friday night and Saturday night in case there is a weather event.”

Graduation is scheduled for May 23.

“If we have a big rain event, we could move it to the auditorium or bump it to Saturday. I’m pretty confident (probably 95 percent) our home field is not going to be ready. For all our senior parents, grandparents and family members, plan on driving to Wetumpka. It’s 17 miles. They have plenty of seating.”