By NEAL WAGNER / City Editor

A group of volunteers soon will be giving Helena residents and local students a chance to vote for Helena High School’s future sports mascot and team colors after the group accepted nominations over the past few weeks.

The HHS Color and Mascot Selection Committee, which is composed of several local volunteers, allowed Helena residents and students at Helena elementary, middle, intermediate and ninth- and 10^th-graders at Pelham High School to make HHS colors and mascot nominations through Nov. 2.

Shelby County Schools Deputy Superintendent Tom Ferguson said teachers at Helena elementary and intermediate schools have incorporated writing projects into the students’ nomination process, and said the committee has gotten a large response over the past few weeks.

After wrapping up nominations on Nov. 2, committee members compiled the top selections and placed them on a final ballot. The committee will then hold a final election on Nov. 27, and will have a runoff election if necessary on Nov. 29.

The committee is planning to reveal the school colors and mascot during a Nov. 30 meeting.

Crews currently are working to construct Helena High School across Hillsboro Parkway from Helena Middle School. Ferguson previously said the school is scheduled to open in August 2014.

The city of Helena purchased the land for the school, and will construct a sports complex at the school using revenue generated from a 1-cent sales tax increase passed in April 2011.

Once completed, the two-story, 225,000-square-foot Helena High will include 39 classrooms and will be able to accommodate between 1,200 and 1,400 students.

Helena students currently attend high school at Pelham High School. Once Helena High opens, it likely will cut the PHS enrollment in half, school officials said previously.

For more information on the HHS mascot and colors voting process, email the Color and Mascot Selection Committee at Helenahighselectioncommittee@gmail.com.