Celebrating Juneteenth

• Pacific Park’s splash pad was one of the most popular attractions during the Juneteenth celebrations Saturday and Sunday, June 15-16. June 19, 1865, or 'Juneteenth,' as it's become known, was the day slaves in Galveston, Texas, learned they'd been legally freed two years earlier.
• James Goodson (second from left) and the family of Zebedee Clayton received plaques commemorating them as Sulphur Springs’ first black fireman and police officer, respectively. Goodson worked at Sulphur Springs Fire Department from 1972 to 1988. Zebedee Clayton began his law enforcement career at the Sulphur Springs Police Department in 1958, then later became a Hopkins County Sheriff’s deputy.
• Bam Jackson, a member of the Juneteenth committee, was all smiles as he handed out smoked brisket at Saturday's Juneteenth celebration at Pacific Park.
• Newly-crowned 2024 Miss Juneteenth Jaiden Wade regally greeted spectators at Saturday's Juneteenth parade. Wade was crowned Saturday, June 8, at the annual Juneteenth Pageant. Staff photos by Tammy Vinson
• Columbia Lodge No. 81's Worshipful Master Tommy Harrison (right) managed to talk Corrice “Pooh” Dial (second from left) into buying a raffle ticket for a chance to win a diesel-powered 2024 Kubota RTV-X 4x4 and bumper-pull trailer from Help A Child.
• Sulphur Springs residents marked Juneteenth with a parade, followed by recognitions, games with prizes for kids, as well as a community-wide barbecue cookout and celebration of gospel music.
• Coaches and players from Wildcats Elite Youth Sports basketball team helped celebrate Juneteenth at Saturday’s parade.

Celebrating Juneteenth