Skip to content

City approves upcoming Halloween-themed events

Halloween will be here before you know it and there will likely be a variety of activities for youngsters in the community including two events that were approved by the Cairo City Council Monday night.
City fathers approved a special event permit for the annual “Boo on Broad” downtown trick or treating activity. This year’s “Boo on Broad,” which is sponsored by Cairo Main Street and participating downtown businesses, will be held on Monday, Oct. 31, from 3 p.m. until 5 p.m.
The council also approved a “Trunk or Treat” event to be held at Holder Park on Halloween from 6 p.m. until 8 p.m.
Nicole Lamoute at Whigham School is organizing the event. Lamoute told councilmen that it is difficult for working parents to get their children to the “Boo on Broad,” because it ends at 5 p.m.
“It is a struggle to get to downtown for the trick or treating. I wanted to do something in our community. We will follow the same thing many of our churches do where children go from car to car to get candy from the ‘trunkers,'” Ms. Lamoute said.
She is soliciting “trunkers” to participate and she has also sought donations of candy from local businesses. For more information or to assist in the effort, Ms. Lamoute may be reached at 229-224-3915.
Councilman James H. (Jimmy) Douglas questioned the organizer’s plan for security for the event. Ms. Lamoute indicated she had arranged for security with off-duty officers.
Councilman Ernest Cloud suggested participants park on the city property east of Holder Park off Fourth Street S.W. rather than on M.L. King Jr. Ave.
Ms. Lamoute requested and the council approved the temporary closing of Sixth Street S.W. from the intersection of M.L. King Jr. Ave. to just south of the entrance to the Boys and Girls Club. This will provide parking around the club and at the pool house area for between 60 and 70 parking places for “trunkers.”
Ms. Lamoute has set a deadline of Friday, Oct. 14, for all “trunkers” to register with her. The “trunkers” are to arrive prior to 6 p.m.
Main Street Director Celeste Tyler told councilmen she appreciated the concerns raised about the times for “Boo on Broad,” but noted that it is an event that allows parents to take young children to trick or treat in a confined, safe area.
Tyler indicated that children begin arriving as early as 3 p.m. and noted that most of the participating businesses and organizations close at 5 p.m.
“Many of the merchants spend on average $500 on candy and when it is gone, it’s gone,” she said. Mrs. Tyler said that the merchants appreciate the early start time.
Councilman Jerry Cox asked Tyler, who is also overseeing the downtown streetscape project, if the South Broad Street phase of the project would be completed prior to the event.
Both Tyler and city manager Chris Addleton said the project would be “substantially” complete by the Oct. 31 event.
In other business Monday night, the council:
Approved a special event permit for the annual M.L. King Day parade to be held Jan. 16,  2017, at 11 a.m.
Held a public hearing on a conditional use permit to allow use of the former Valley Pines Golf Course clubhouse as a church for the Good Samaritan Church, a local Hispanic congregation. Following the public hearing, the council voted unanimously to approve the conditional use. Attorney Bill Bass, representing the church, told the council the church had been meeting in the clubhouse for four years, but only until recently was the utilities put in the name of the church.
Held a public hearing on the rezoning of property located on GA Hwy. 93 South from R1A single family residential district to C-1 highway commercial district at the request of Carolyn Acker, owner of Pritchard Place, LLC. The rezoning request is being made to facilitate the construction of a Dollar General store near the location of Mrs. Acker’s home place, which she plans to move, renovate and live in. The council unanimously approved the rezoning following the close of the public hearing.
Unanimously reappointed Capital City Bank Grady County President Charles Davis to the Grady County Joint Development Authority. Davis’ new term will expire Oct. 1, 2019.

Leave a Comment