By Steven Stilt
During their meeting Tuesday evening, members of the Wamac City Council received an update on preparations for the upcoming Wamac Fest. The event will run from 3 to 11 p.m. on Saturday, September 20th, at Wamac City Park.
According to Mayor Jackie “Butch” Mathus, the musical lineup for the annual event is currently being finalized, with three acts already confirmed.
“We’ll have Joel Young, and then we’ll have Los Reyes mariachi band, and we’ll have the One and Only Band. I had an opening act, but I couldn’t get a positive confirmation, so I’m working on another one.”
In addition to live music, Wamac Fest will feature activities including a cake walk, raffle drawings, inflatables and children’s games, as well as food served by the Timmons Family. Mathus says there will be cake mix available at Wamac City Hall for those who would like to prepare a cake for the cake walk. Donations of raffle items are also welcome.
Proceeds from Wamac Fest go toward improvements at the park. Mathus thanked all those who help prepare for the event and invited everyone to stop by and enjoy the festivities.
“It takes a community to put this all together, and I’m deeply humbled by everybody’s support. I look forward to having a good time and want people to come out and see some of the improvements we have done at the park, and we just want everybody to have a wonderful and safe time.”
This Friday, September 5th, there will be a barbecue fundraiser lunch at Wamac City Hall, with proceeds benefiting Wamac Fest.
Also on Tuesday, the council discussed the possibility of increasing the water shutoff fee for those who are not paying their bills, before eventually tabling the item. Wamac officials say the shutoff fee has stood at $50 for many years and the amount should be raised to account for higher labor costs and the man-hours required to shut off and restart service. Mathus says the city will research what other communities have done and come back with a proposal for a new fee structure.
