LAKE CITY, S.C. — Most of the homecoming and alumni weekend lineup at Lake City High School is off this year after Florence County School District Three pulled the plug on the festivities, pointing to recent violence in the community.
The district made the call Tuesday night. Gone from the schedule are the parade and the pep rally, along with the alumni breakfast and the stadium tailgates at Ward Memorial Stadium.
The Panthers will still play their homecoming football game on Oct. 30 as planned, and the school will crown its homecoming king and queen during halftime. District officials said no homecoming dance had ever been planned.
The district described the move as a precaution following recent violent incidents in and around Lake City. The city’s interim police chief met with district leaders before the announcement and said his department would back whatever the district decided. The mayor said the city had no part in the decision but supports putting safety first.
People who already paid for tailgating spots at the stadium will get refunds, and the district plans to say later when the checks will be ready. This year’s celebration was set to mark 56 years of the school’s homecoming tradition.
Section: More Florence SC education news
Filed under: Florence SC Education News
