All government offices in Chilton County including Clanton City Hall, Jemison City Hall, Thorsby Town Hall and Maplesville Town Hall as well as the Chilton County Courthouse will be closed Monday, Jan. 21, in observance of Martin Luther King Jr. Day.

Chilton County Schools will also be closed.

Thorsby’s council meeting is rescheduled for Tuesday, Jan. 22, at 6 p.m. and Jemison’s council meeting has been cancelled with the next meeting on Feb. 4 at 6 p.m.

The annual Dr. King Parade will begin at 1 p.m. at Jack Hayes Field in Clanton City Park with those participating in the parade being asked to line up at noon.

Parade organizer Robert Binion said a guest speaker will talk after the race at the E.M. Henry Head Start facility in the auditorium at 413 South 14th Street in Clanton.

“We are going to have pastor Richard Davis who pastors at Mount Olive Church in Alabaster come and speak,” Binion said.

On Jan. 20 a gospel singing will be held at the American Legion in West End at 4:30 to remember Dr. King with raffle tickets being sold for $1.

Binion said this year anyone choosing to participate in the parade via a car or float will have to pay a $5 donation or purchase five raffle tickets for $1. Binion said anyone wanting to walk in the parade can do so free of charge.

The raffle winner will be announced during the ceremony immediately following the parade.

Binion has organized the parade for 12 years in an effort to bring “unity to the community.”

“Hopefully the parade will let folks know that freedom itself doesn’t just come to you automatically,” Binion said.