By Melanie Patterson

The North Jefferson News



The Morris Senior Center is gearing up to host the second annual Morris Country Fair.

The fair, set for April 12, 9 a.m. to 2 p.m., will be held at the park across from Morris City Hall.

Those attending the fair will find crafts, a car show, a motorcycle show and live entertainment by country music performer Butch Horsley of Pinson.

There will also be plenty of food on hand. Eloise Blankenship, director of the Morris Senior Center, said the seniors will prepare treats for a bake sale, in addition to selling hot dogs and drinks.

A special feature at this year’s fair will be the Moving Wall, a traveling replica of the Vietnam Veterans Memorial Wall in Washington D.C.

The Country Fair is the Morris Senior Center’s annual fund-raiser to send senior citizens to the Senior Olympics.

“That’s why we started doing this,” said Blankenship.

Blankenship said the senior citizens look forward to attending the Senior Olympics every year.

“They’re excited,” she said. “They like to go and win.”

She said that a board at the center is filled with medals from seniors’ past victories.

Events at the Senior Olympics include dominoes, Rook, Frisbee and Nerf ball throws, basketball and softball throws, shuffleboard, tennis, bowling and swimming, according to Blankenship.

She expects about a dozen seniors from Morris to attend the Senior Olympics this year.

The event will be in Florence on Oct. 7-9.

Blankenship thanks businesses in Morris who donated funds last year to help residents attend the Senior Olympics.

The center is accepting donations again this year. Blankenship said that lodging alone will cost at least $1,200.

To make donations, or for further information about the fair, call Morris City Hall at 647-0596 or call Blankenship at the Morris Senior Center at 647-7434.