Mayor, LEAD hosting BBQ Contest at Reagan Park

Jun. 22—Mayor Mitchell Jordan and the Leadership Education Achieve Dreams Team are hosting a BBQ Contest and family fun day from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday, July 6 at Reagan Park.

"This is really a family event and we invite the community to come out and enjoy a day in the park together," Jordan said. "I hope all of our families with special needs will come out and attend, along with all our local veterans, I want them to come out and be celebrated as well."

Jordan said the entry fee for the barbecue contest is $50 per team. Businesses, organizations or groups of friends that would like to enter a team are asked to contact him. Businesses that would like to sponsor a team are welcome to also display their banners.

Jordan said the LEAD team has partnered up with Wayne-Sanderson Farms and Dogwood Trails, Foxhouse Bar & Grill for this event. He said all food will be provided for this competition.

Jordan said they would take the first 12 teams that signed up for this competition.

Payments must be submitted by June 28 for all participating teams. Contestants will start cooking around 6 a.m., Jordan said.

Celebrity judges for this event will include Sheriff Rudy Flores, Constable Doug Lightfoot and Marvin Jenkins — the Anderson County Constable Elect for Precinct 2, to name a few. Jordan said those in attendance will also have an opportunity to vote for their favorite team.

The winning team will receive $500, a trophy and get their picture in the newspaper.

Jordan said while donations are appreciated, the food cooked for the competition will be provided to those in attendance free of charge while supplies last.

They will also be selling turkey legs and sausage on a stick for a reasonable price.

Jordan said there will be bounce houses, a face painter, a balloon artist, cotton candy and music provided by DJ Dewayne Hamilton.

All proceeds from this event will go to the Dogwood Trails Assisted Living Alzheimer's facility, according to Jordan.

Vendors and local organizations are welcome to set up at the park for this event.

LEAD is a community initiative organization that is working on its nonprofit status. The purpose of LEAD is to encourage community involvement, provide community education and bridge the gap between the city and the community at large.

"We dream big,' Jordan said. "We have some exciting things in the works for our community."