In Mar. 29 issue, Russell County News
By Greg Wells
Managing Editor



ABOVE: A view of the inside of the sanctuary in Russell Springs First Baptist Church.

RUSSELL SPRINGS - Two large construction projects are progressing well and are expected to be completed on time.

Steve Bransucm of Branscum construction said they are pleased with the progress on on the new sanctuary at Russell Springs First Baptist Church and the auditorium-natatorium being build by the school system.

Branscum, whose company is in charge of both projects, said the church’s sanctuary will easily seat 600 on the main floor and the balcony. Parishioners will be able to enter the sanctuary through a hallway that circles the room, so that everyone won’t have to file down the main isle to reach or leave their seats.

There is an elevated baptistry behind the pulpit as well as a higher perch for the choir to sing from.

The 13,000 or so square feet of the main auditorium of the church is augmented by classrooms and administrative space as well, Branscum said.

The auditorium the school system is building will be the largest in the county, seating 750 people and is one of the larger venus in the surrounding counties.

The pool will be an eight-lane competition pool. As the plans stand at present, it will also include 1-meter and 3-meter diving platforms at the deep end of the pool.

Branscum said the building is a very complex construction with catwalks, specialty lighting and other additions that will take a considerable amount of time to install.

He said though that they fully expect to have that building with its eight classrooms, prop room and other rooms completed on time.

Completion date for the school’s project is in the spring of 2009, expected in May.

As an aside, Branscum said the 110,000 square-foot project at BRUSS North America is also on-schedule and he expects it to be completed this fall.