A three-day Juneteenth celebration is being planned in Lamesa next weekend. Juneteenth is an annual holiday recognizing the effective end of slavery in Texas. Although the Emancipation Proclamation had been issued in January of 1863, it wasn’t until June 19, 1865 that the news of freedom reached African Americans in Texas. This year, the local celebration of Juneteenth will look different for Lamesa. Members of the community have banned together to form a committee dedicated to planning a weekend-long celebration. Organizers are hoping the entire community will get involved and participate in the event as a show of unity. The planning committee for the local ...