Hurricane Rita puts Highlands Jamboree on Hold

SCHEDULES REVISED

MISS HIGHLANDS PAGEANT STILL OCT. 1

By BOBBY HORN JR.
HIGHLANDS— The 49th Annual Highlands Jamboree, planned for Sept. 30 and Oct. 1 has been postponed due to Hurricane Rita.
“We decided in the face of what we thought was much damage from Rita to reschedule the Jamboree,” said Greater Highlands Lynchburg Area Chamber President Roy Elliott. “I know that can be easily second guessed now that we have nice weather and minimal damage.”
Despite the fact that Highlands suffered light damage, compared with the rest of Southeast Texas, Elliott said that this weekend would not the best time for the festival.
“There were many things that would had been happening this last weekend and all through this week in preparation that have not due to the disruption. Remember that many people are still not home and most have some damage of some sort that they are dealing with. If we went ahead as is, we would have a minimal turnout,” he added.
The Children’s Pageant, hosted by the Triple Arts Studio has been reset for Oct. 8.
A future date of the Jamboree is also depending on the availability of the Highlands/San Jacinto Community Center. The chamber said that they have contacted Precinct 2 Commissioner Sylvia Garcia’s office concerning the building, but as of press time did not have a firm commitment on a date.
On Tuesday, the Highlands Horizons Board of Officers met to discuss whether they should also postpone the Miss Highlands and Junior Miss Highlands Pageants, which were planned for Saturday.