Lamar hears of Egg Scramble Success
By Samantha Lyles, Staff Writer, slyles@newsandpress.net
Lamar Town Council met Monday, April 9 and received the good news that in spite of rainy weather on Saturday, the annual Egg Scramble Jamboree was a great success.
“We were so afraid Saturday when the rain started on the parade, but people just popped open their umbrellas,” said Egg Scramble Committee chair Jeronell Bradley. “Then we were afraid everyone was just going to go home, but they did not. They stayed and walked the streets until eight that night when the downpour came.”
Bradley said several food vendors sold completely out, and most of the people she spoke with told her that they made money, even in the poor weather. She noted that the Friday night parade is growing each year, and the decision to leave Lamar’s signature old-school Christmas lights up through the festival proved very popular. Bradley also thanked the community, the Town of Lamar and the Lamar Police Department for all their help making the Jamboree a success.
“Without all your help, none of this past weekend would have been possible,” said Bradley.
Council also heard a presentation from Pamela Prince, Shonette Dargan, and Kioka Reed of the Pee Dee Coalition Against Domestic and Sexual Assault.
Dargan said that the Coalition is a non-profit organization, which provides assistance to women and children in seven counties, including sites in both Hartsville and Darlington. She spoke of the two shelters that take in families fleeing from dangerous situations and help them transition to new jobs and new homes, and the counseling and aid they provide to adults and children who have been victims of violence and abuse.
“In 2016 alone, we delivered direct services across seven counties to 809 victims in the Pee Dee. That’s a lot of people, and the reality of it is that not everybody reports (when they have been victims),” said Dargan, adding they took over 2,000 crisis line calls that year.
She also noted that the Coalition doesn’t forget about the offenders, and they try to work with them and show them better ways to deal with their anger and frustrations through the ATV or Alternatives to Violence program.
Dargan reminded Council and meeting guests that April is Sexual Assault Awareness and Child Abuse Prevention Month, and she presented Mayor Darnell McPherson with a proclamation officially recognizing this observance in the Town of Lamar.
To learn more about their programs, visit them online at www.peedeecoalition.org.
