Walker Gives Update on Lyons Downtown Events
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Lyons Main Street Association Director Daphne Walker gave the Lyons City Council an update on downtown projects and events during the Council’s meeting on Tuesday, July 2.
Walker began by informing the Council that the new Lyons Welcome Center would host a grand opening and ribbon cutting ceremony to invite the public to look at the new facility from 5:30 -7 p.m. on August 12. During this event, new Lyons merchandise, such as t-shirts and hats, will be available for purchase.
According to Walker, the Southeast Georgia Soap Box Derby will host a celebration commemorating the Derby’s designation as Georgia’s official Soap Box Derby at 6 p.m. on Wednesday, July 10. In addition to this, Derby officials are buying $4,000 worth of cars and parts to help the event be prepared for future growth.
She also updated the Council on the Community Heart and Soul program efforts, which strives to learn what citizens love about Lyons so leaders can work to continue to improve the community. The kickoff for this campaign is slated for August 13 and 14, when the program’s core team meets to establish a plan for the endeavor.
Most recently, the program obtained a “Why do you love Lyons?” sign which participants can sign to describe their favorite parts of the community. Councilwoman Cathy Benton took the sign to the local Juneteenth Jubilee, and each participant was entered in a raffle to earn a chance at winning $10,000.
Walker said that preparations for the annual Real Squeal BBQ & Music Festival are underway, as 12 professional barbecue teams have signed up to compete at the event. The Real Squeal Scholarship Pageant is slated for September 14, and has a few changes, as Walker shared that the pageant committee had decided to add an interview competition for young participants in the pageant.
The Real Squeal Disc Golf Tournament will be held on September 28, and the annual car show will continue to be held at the First Baptist Church in Lyons. Walker told the Council that the car show committee is working with Toombs County High School Coach Buddy Martin to try to collaborate with local student athletes so that food and drink can be sold at the event as a fundraiser for the Toombs County Schools’ athletic program.
Following Walker’s report, Juneteenth Committee Representative Atallaka Harris spoke to the Council about this year’s event, stating that it was a success even through hot weather. “We had a lot of people come out and have a great time,” Harris shared. “We really want to thank you for always supporting us. The City of Lyons has never wavered from supporting all of our endeavors and we are so grateful.”
During the business portion of the meeting, the Council agreed to contract Roberts Civil Engineering to undertake providing a road and water and sewer lines for a new housing development. This project comes from a grant which the City received previously for rural workforce housing.
An alcohol beverage license was approved for Shree Om Enterprises.
The next Council work session will be at 6 p.m. on July 30, while the next meeting is slated for 6 p.m. on August 6.
