2017 Year in Review – July

New Soccer Field for Savage Teams

For the past several years, since soccer became a sport for Lamar High School, the teams made use of the field along Yucca Street in Lamar, just north of the school complex. Prior to that it had been used as a football practice field and needed some polish to bring it up to standards.  Yucca would be lined with cars as parents and friends of players would watch the games only from that limited viewpoint.

This summer, the RE-2 administration is moving the soccer field northward and keeping the old field as a practice site. According to Steffan Warn, Maintenance Supervisor for the district, 80,000 square feet of sod is being laid out on the new field and the sprinkler system is being revamped to accommodate the new acreage for the playing field.  “This is very good sandy soil and the recent rains have really helped,” he explained, adding that the sandy soil is better for maintaining the sod that the clay composition of the football stadium.  “The sandy composition offers really good drainage,” he explained.  He said that part of the prompt for the new field stemmed from visiting coaches saying their teams were not used to playing on such a rough field.

Yoder Family Makes Donation to Lamar Parks and Recreation Department

Residents of the City of Lamar will benefit from the $20,000 donation to the Parks and Recreation Department by the Yoder Family. According to City Administrator, John Sutherland, the memorial gift will be used for an event or equipment at the Lamar Community Building, the Lamar swimming pool or a park or youth program sponsored by the recreation department.

The letter to the city, initiated by Ron Yoder, Cathy Reyes, Dan and Sheryl Yoder, Susan Yoder Williams and Steve Williams, Forrest Yoder and Kelsey Yoder, detailed how Marvin and Pat Yoder were lifetime residents of Lamar who valued family, area youth and the Lamar community. It stated the family enjoyed many hours of recreation and leisure in the Lamar Community Building, parks and swimming pool.  It is hoped that the donation will provide other families with the same opportunities.  Sutherland commented, “This is a real pleasant surprise when we get something like this for the city.”  He added that Rick Akers, Lamar Parks and Recreation Director, is listing some ideas for the best means of benefitting Lamar residents through the gift by the Yoder family.

Pocket Park Grand Opening Set for July 13

Grand Opening at Shore Arts Center Park

The long-awaited first construction phase of the downtown Lamar Pocket Park has been completed and a celebration for the opening will feature the 6pm reception at the park at 115 South Main Street (parking in the rear), a classic rock concert at 7pm by the Valley Jazz Orchestra and an art show, featuring the works of local artist, Jeremy Miller will be on display. Miller has contributed several sculptures that will be featured at the park.

With the exception of some fine tuning and added shade coverings, the park is about 85% complete according to city officials. Due to a higher than expected construction bid, the City of Lamar decided to scale separate the project into two parts, pending available funding.  Details on future rentals for private events at the park are being completed and interested parties will make arrangements through the Lamar Parks and Recreation Department.