New STHS bleachers behind schedule but ready by first game

Mother Nature hasn't been very nice to Southern Bleachers out of Texas. They are the contractors working on the new football stadium bleachers at South Tahoe High and they missed the August 8 deadline for completion of the project. Summer rains caused several delays but they are now back on track to have the project finished by August 21, a week before the school's first football game.

The steel is all on site and will be installed on Monday. Southern Bleachers created all components at their facility in Texas and they will be transported to South Lake Tahoe when needed to prevent vandalism.

The photo in this story was taken at STHS on Wednesday, August 12. The Department of State Architect (DSA) required upgrades which included the 42 foot deep cement supports seen in the photo.

Per contract, Southern Bleachers could have been fined for every day past the deadline they needed to complete the project. Lake Tahoe Unified School District Superintendent Dr. Jim Tarwater said the delay was no fault of the contractor's.

With a price tag of just over $500,000, the new bleachers at South Tahoe High will have 917 seats, a press and announcer box, handicapped seating and support to withstand any snow storm.

South Tahoe High's first home game is against El Dorado High. Varsity plays at 7:30 p.m. Prior to their game, Churchill County will play Tokay from Lodi, CA in a non-conference game in South Lake Tahoe. Tokay is the school were new STHS coach Louis Franklin once worked.