Lodging Panel Funds Halloween Event & Snow Goose Festival

Geese Over the Ponds

Next February will mark the 14^th Annual High Plains Snow Goose Festival in Lamar and Shawna Hodge, Lamar’s Main Street Coordinator, outlined the plans and advertising campaign for members of the Prowers County Lodging Panel this past Tuesday, September 15.

Board members fully funded the request of $7,548 which is less than the $9,000 asked for last year. “We’re cutting back on our main speaker contract fees,” Hodge explained, adding that because the organizers haven’t locked in a speaker at this point, they’re only allocating $1,000 instead of the $3,000 used last year. The majority of advertising expenses will be spent regionally as well as in some traditional birding publications, Facebook and online. It was suggested to Hodge, that the organizers put $500 into the long-lived quarterly Territorial magazine as a new advertising venue because of its focus on heritage events in the High Plains. The Snow Goose Festival will run from February 18 to the 22^nd next year.

So who’s ready for a grown-up Halloween Costume Party with prizes, beer, wine, a catered meal and a live band out of Pueblo? The Lamar Chamber Merchants group has planned for an October 24^th event at the Wolf’s Den Event Center, located south of Spreading Antlers Golf Course. Cassandra Lopper, representing the Wolf’s Den, provided an overview of the first-time event which will help raise advertising funds for the local merchant’s organization.

“The tickets will cost $25 per person and they must be at least 21 or over to attend,” she explained. That will cover the catered meal and two beverages, either wine or beer. A band from Pueblo will perform and karaoke will round out the entertainment which will include costumes and dancing through the evening. The Halloween party will run from 7pm to midnight and the organizers will contact PATS to provide transportation for those who don’t wish to drive. Lopper requested $5,619 for advertising and contract fees and the board funded the proposal by 80% for $4,500. Advertising costs are estimated at $3,320. She added that the group wants to make this an annual event and tickets are currently on sale.

The Panel received $100.20 from the state, bringing the revenue $20,088 as well as $14,000 which is now in the contingency fund. Member Doug Thrall suggested setting aside $1,000 a month to augment the fund in case the board is approached by an organization which requires substantial funding. There was general agreement among the board, but no action was taken at this time. Office manager, Carla Scranton, said the board received a $2,164 reimbursement from organizers of the Fly In Festival, as they decided that it would not be held this year, but are considering alternating years for the event at the Lamar Municipal Airport. That check, plus another for $800 was added to the general fund.  The money was from the sale of a golf cart that was used in the Enchanted Forest for the past several years. The next Lodging Panel meeting is set for Tuesday, October 20^th.

By Russ Baldwin