DON McDERMOTT / PVT The pre-fabricated 9,000-pound, 3,600 cubic-foot press box was transported to Pahrump by truck (below) and was placed in at a designated slot at the top of the bleachers (above). The task took less than 30 minutes to complete, once the lift started. Advertisement

Opening Day for the Pahrump Valley High School's revitalized stadium is March 11, when the Trojan track team will host Class 4-A Las Vegas Durango and Chaparral and 1-A Laughlin in a quadrangular meet.

A major step toward the completion of the $600,000 project was taken Wednesday, when the 9,000-pound, 3,600 cubic-foot press box was lifted into place. The press box is already fitted with electrical outlets and other equipment required for it to function as intended.

"It's great to be part of this," said Steve Figgins, a senior estimator and a Pahrump Valley liason to the project, "When the press box was built, we made sure that the people who will work on top of it would have easy access." A 16-square foot hatch was built into the roof of the press box and safety rails will be installed.

The press box, constructed by Whitley-Evergreen in Marysville, Wash., was transported to Pahrump by Bennett Truck Transport of Woodburn, Ore. Equipment and crew from Suiter's Crane LLC of Las Vegas completed the task in less than 30 minutes, once everything was in place to insure the massive lift was accomplished without incident.

HCI of Las Vegas is the general contractor and was represented by Dan Bailey, with the bleachers created by Hansen Sports of Kentucky.