News and Notes from Around the Town

The PCDI Annual Banquet will be held Friday, March 27 beginning with 6pm tours of the Holly High School, the dinner and banquet meeting starts at 7pm, including the election of three new board officers.  Nominations can be taken from the floor that night.

The Friends of the Lamar Library will start their spring sale one day early for members, on Saturday, March 28, from 9am to 1pm and concluding on Wednesday, April 1 for Bargain Day.

The Lamar City Council breakfast will be held at the Hickory House on Wednesday, April 1 from 7-8am.

The Lamar Library will be closed on April 6 for training, the city’s front office of the City Complex will be closed for about 90 minutes for training on April 7.  Spring Clean up Day will be Saturday, May 2.  Volunteers are always needed to make this work.  City Administrator, John Sutherland, said some emphasis on the Clean Up will be focused on the general improvement of neighborhoods in the town, not just accumulated junk.

Lamar Merchants of the Chamber of Commerce are hosting a Spring Fling on Friday, April 17 from 4pm to 8pm with sales, food and entertainment.

The Lamar City Council approved and signed a letter of support for the annual 9/11 Responders Tribute set for September 12 this year.  Doug Harbour, organizer of the event, will use the letter to help secure funding from El Pomar.

The Lamar Citizen’s Police Academy will start on April 23, according to Lamar Police Chief, Kyle Miller.  He said it will be shorter and more concise this year, ending on May 30.  The training will run from 7 to 9pm on Thursdays.  Call for information at 336-4341.

The City of Lamar is still waiting for a signed contract agreement with Charter Communications, the local cable provider.  The agreement was approved by the council in September.  Administrator Sutherland said he’s gotten a couple of calls from them, but no contract yet.  Charter sent a letter stating that new customers, by April 2, will be offered some channels in something called Digital Tier 1.  They are 38/247, 84, 40 and channel 53.

The Lamar Fire Department Auxiliary’s Fireman’s Ball from Saturday, March 21 raised $1,500 for the July 4^th Fireworks Fund.

Lamar councilwoman, Anne Marie Crampton, said the Rural Philanthropy Group, which offers suggestions on how to secure grant funding from various donors every several years, is stressing downtown development and the workforce for three years out.

The City of Lamar is expected to start connecting Camino de Santa Fe to east Highway 50 by Wal Mart by March 31.