By Michael Butler

Tallassee High School graduation will be at 8 p.m. on May 23. The question still remains, where will it be?

J. E. “Hot” O’Brien Stadium in Tallassee is still undergoing renovations with the installation of field turf. There is still a chance that commencement exercises could take place there as originally scheduled, even if the project is partially complete.

“The Elmore County Commission has been pressing diligently through their contractor to get our stadium in order to have the THS graduation ceremony,” Tallassee City Schools Superintendent Dr. Brock Nolin said.

Nolin has already made contingency plans to utilize Wetumpka’s new Hohenberg Stadium as a back-up plan or, in the event of rain, the Tallassee High School Auditorium/Performing Arts Center. The latter would limit seating.

The finishing touches are being done on Burt-Haynie Field in Eclectic, which also underwent a makeover with new turf. That project has been a few weeks ahead of the work being done in Tallassee.

“Rain over the weekend has not helped the situation. We’ll see what state the field is in on Monday, May 19 and make a final decision. The board secured the Wetumpka Stadium months ago. As of now, the plan is to have the ceremony at that site,” Nolin added. “Commissioner Brad Davis has been on site most days to help spur things on. I appreciate Commissioner Davis and the rest of the commission for their hard work in trying to make this happen.”

Davis gave the latest update from the contractor on Monday morning, 11 days before graduation night.

“The remainder of net poles are being set today. (We’re) hauling the remaining stone tomorrow (and) should have the base finished Monday if weather allows,” Davis relayed from a text message. “(I’m) keeping the pressure on. Completing the job is my focus. We have done harder things. We will have them on that field one way or another.”