Relay for Life results top $72,000
Newsboy photos by Charles Kerr

First lap = survivors only

In near perfect weather, Jasper's Relay for Life took off on schedule last Friday at 7 p.m. Cancer survivors in purple shirts made first lap of the county courthouse. Among them were current Jasper County Judge Mark Allen and retired Judge Joe Folk.

The second lap their caregivers joined them in rust-colored shirts, and then marched to the fire hall for a special survivors banquet.

The goal of the Relay is that teams walk from 7 p.m. to 7 a.m. to raise money for the American Cancer Society. At least one person from each team keeps their baton in motion all night, a reminder that the fight against cancer never rests.

Teams also set up tents to sell food, play games, and offer entertainment all evening to help raise more money. Each tent had a theme. The group from Curves all wore togas to symbolize "making cancer ancient history."

Luminaria were lit at 10 p.m. Charles Norwood, director of the Jasper Community Theater, read the poem, "Every candle has a name." Enough $5 candles were sold to completely ring the outside circle of the courthouse square, and they were double-bagged for the entire block of Lamar.

Catch me if you can

Children bored with walking in circles found that the freshly resurfaced Main Street made a perfect chalkboard for street art.

The street party lasted through the night. By 5 a.m. most tents held only snoring bodies huddled under quilts, but still the batons made their rounds.

Every candle has a name Sparklers are #1