Parade could begin at Old High School parking lot

CELINA-Clay County High School has made plans for an alternate route for Friday’s homecoming parade if one needs to be implemented, as explained by the following statement from school officials:

“It is with great excitement that Clay County High School (CCHS) will be having its annual homecoming parade on Friday, October 18 beginning at 1:30 p.m.  

“The school’s administration, staff, and students wish to thank the community for the tremendous participation and turn out that they provide each year.  It is with that in mind that CCHS wishes to make everyone aware of the potential changes this year.

“Due to the current lane closure and construction process on the Veterans Memorial Bridge that carries Highway 52 across the Cumberland River, CCHS administration has deemed it necessary to formulate alternative plans to provide the maximum amount of safety possible to their students.

“If the construction process has not been completed the parade will leave from the old high school parking lot located at 636 Brown Street, allowing the parade to stay away from the bottlenecked traffic pattern that is currently in use on the bridge.

“However, if the construction process is complete and a normal traffic pattern has been reestablished, the parade will embark from CCHS as per usual.

“Regardless, the school wishes for the entire community to be on hand to see the parade, and are apologetic for any inconvenience that potential change could create.”

School officials also offered turn-by-turn descriptions of both routes.

The traditional route will include the following:

• lineup at CCHS;

• leave CCHS, turn left traveling east on Hwy. 52/Dow Avenue;

• turn right traveling south on Brown Street, follow Brown Street to Hwy. 53;

• turn right traveling south on Hwy. 53;

• turn right traveling west on Pitcock Lane;

• turn left traveling south on Mitchell Street;

• turn right traveling south onto Williamson Street;

• turn right traveling east onto W. Lake Avenue; and

• the parade officially ends at the E. Lake Avenue/Highway 53 intersection, with anyone welcome to follow the SRO back to the old high school parking lot to unload riders.

The alternate route will include the following:

• lineup at the old high school parking lot;

• leave on Brown Street traveling toward the Hwy. 53 intersection;

• turn right traveling south on Hwy. 53;

• turn right traveling west on Pitcock Lane;

• turn right onto Mitchell Street;

• proceed onto Brown Street traveling north toward and through the 4-way stop turning left on Dow Avenue;

• turn left on Williamson Street;

• turn left on W. Lake Avenue;

• the parade officially ends at the E. Lake Avenue/Highway 53 intersection.

With either route, school officials explained participant drivers are welcome to follow the school resource officer back to the old high school parking lot to unload riders.