By Ashley McCleery

The North Jefferson News



On Saturday from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., Warrior residents have the opportunity to celebrate their community with food, fun and festivities at the town’s annual Warrior Day in the city park.

Spon-sored by Warrior’s Lion’s Club and the city of Warrior, Warrior Day will commence with a parade at 9 a.m., which will feature Tom Cook as grand marshal. Then, the day will disperse into a festival with music from Butch Horsley, arts and crafts, food and games.

Throughout the day, the Lion’s Club will cook their traditional Boston Butt’s, children can visit the recreational booths and adults can even check their health. For the first time at Warrior Day, Physicians Medical Center Caraway will offer free sight, hearing and health screenings.

Lion’s Club site chairman and Warrior Day coordinator J.D. McAlpine said Warrior Day has been a highlight in the community for the past several years, and he expects this year to be just as successful.

“It’s a time when everyone can come out and feel free to have a good time,” McAlpine said. “We’re thinking big this year, expecting 1,000 to 1,500 people.”

Although McAlpine is hoping for a larger crowd, he said he knows that the door prizes will be larger this year. In addition to small door prizes, participants can draw to win a 1995 Grand Am from Cars For Less and a free burial from Goodwin Funeral Home.

“To me, Warrior Day is something that’s getting more successful each year,” Warrior mayor Rena Hudson said. “There’s a series of improvements year after year.”

To make Warrior Day successful, the Lion’s Club has been planning this event for several months, but McAlpine said it’s well worth the effort. “Watching the kids and people celebrate and letting the people have a relaxing day makes it all worth while because it’s a lot of work.”

Like many Warrior residents, Hudson awaits for Saturday, which she said would be a great time to gather with friends and family. “It looks like God’s going to bless us with a beautiful day, so we couldn’t ask for more.”

For more information about Warrior Day, call 647-9592 or 647-9697.