Great Turnout for 2016 Lamar Days

County Royalty Joins the Parade

The new parade route for Lamar Days along South Second Street didn’t detract spectators or participants, Saturday, May 21^st.  Most residents enjoyed the ability to sit on their front steps or lawns and enjoy the shade and festivities as the parade, showcasing this year’s theme, “Big Dreams from a Small Town”,  wound its way towards the west side of Willow Creek Park.  The parade was packed with entries, highlighted by Zonta’s annual Royalty couple.  This year, Judy and Dean Douglass had the honors of leading the parade, followed by the American Legion Color Guard.

Feathers and Offspring

Feathers, the Lamar Chamber Mascot brought along some of the family this year for the parade. The HOPE Center kids are raffling off a vintage 1961 Ford Thunderbird, donated by Dr. Howard Hobbs.  As was evidenced by the body, some bondo and paint could restore a highway classic.  Other entries include several political groups, from the County GOP organization, State Rep Tim Dore, challenger Kimmi Lewis and State Senator Bill Crowder.  County Royalty also took part with the County Rodeo Queen and Princesses on their favorite parade horses.

The fire department displayed their new fire truck as well as their 1908 vintage truck, waxed and shined as it were just off the assembly line.

The night before, 115 cars and bikes converged on the Sonic Drive-in on North Main Street for the annual Lamar Days Rod Run and “No Booze Cruise and Poker Run with the Cops”. City councilwoman, Bev Haggard, took part with her Harley motorcycle, stating the event probably had more participants than ever before. “We had over 100 people on hand, trying to find a parking spot for the display and the ride afterward.  Close to $1,300 was raised in donations and half of that is going to the Lamar Fire Department’s fireworks display,” she explained Saturday, while at the car show in Willow Creek Park.

Making Healthy Choices for a Better Lifestyle

The Lamar Lions always have a crowd-pleaser, with their pancake, egg and sausage breakfast served at the Masonic Temple on Main Street from 6 to 9am. Some of the older attendees reminisced about the years the cooking was done outdoors on East Elm Street sidewalks when the aroma of sausage on the grill filled the morning air.  Lion’s member, Garth Neischburg, said there had been some improvements over the years to the process, making it easier for the cooks to prepare their meal for several hundred people.  “We’re using a new pancake batter this time, which is making the cakes a little fluffier and adding some texture to them,” he explained.

The eastern edge of Willow Creek Park was packed with cars through the day, as people were trying to find a parking spot to get to the vendors and the attractions that were on offer. Even the western side of the park, along Parkview Avenue, had cars lined along the road, stretching from the swimming pool to the bridge.  Someone remarked that if the trend continues, “We’re going to have to find a way to get west of the creek for more displays.”  Community members were mindful that when the planned skateboard park is up, expected by next year, there should still be sufficient room for that facility along with the parking that filled the space just north of Rotary Way at the eastern entrance to the park, up to where the creek goes under the road, just shy of the swimming pool.

A Silent Pie Auction was conducted from noon to 4pm, with a live auction beginning at four o’clock. Mark Carrigan won the Cook’s Annual Car Blow-up contest; other events included the Rod Run Car Show Awards Ceremony.  By the end of the afternoon the predictable spring winds began to make their presence felt, signaling a time to pack up for the day.  The winds became too strong for the inflatable movie screen, so the 7pm Movie in the Park was called off.  The next morning Commissioner Ron Cook and several volunteers from the Lamar Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors were moving through the park and sections of Willow Valley, policing the area for any trash and letter.  Cook said later, the overall event was one of the best he had participated in and thanked the folks who helped his Car Show and with the general clean-up of the park and neighborhood.

By Russ Baldwin