Andrews – The Board of Aldermen unanimously voted to promote Brian Wilson from recreation park activities director to town activities director during the Jan. 10 meeting.
Mayor James Reid said Wilson will oversee the town’s most important events, including the Cherokee County Fair and the annual Christmas parade.
“He’ll be organizing all that,” Reid said. “When we have music in the park, of course; that will be his baby, too.”
The Cherokee County Board of Commissioners unanimously voted on Nov. 28 to keep the fair in Andrews in 2023. The event returned in September for the first time since 2016. The town also regained control of the Christmas parade last year from the Andrews Chamber of Commerce.
Wilson said he has secured carnival rides for this year’s Cherokee County Fair, a key attraction that was missing in 2022. However, the move has forced organizers to push the upcoming event to mid-October.
The fair was moved up last year to avoid competing against other, larger fall festivals in the area.
“We had to change the dates due to ride availability, so the dates for that will be Oct. 13-15,” Wilson said. “We already have some entertainment for that … Zeb Ross, the clogger from Canton who appeared on the Country Music Awards.”
In May, Wilson hopes Andrews can host a first sports card and memorabilia show. He said he is attempting to secure some high-profile individuals to sign autographs at the show. He is also planning a series of smaller events for the town this year, including a Senior Superlatives Valentine Dine on Tuesday, Feb. 14, at the community center.
Reid said the salary for Wilson’s new position increased from $34,000 to $40,000. Wilson will continue all of his current duties with the recreation park.
“We’re just trying to get more activities through the town instead of running everything through the chamber,” Reid said. “That’s kind of where we’re at now, and if we can get heads in beds we can always go to the county commissioners and ask for money to help fund some of this stuff. We’re just trying to get somebody who can get activities going within the town, so we’ve always got something going on at least once a month.”