Moon Pies Over Prattville is the theme for the City of Prattville's 4th annual Mardi Gras parade scheduled for Saturday, January 26th at 3:00 p.m. The family-fun event is a great way to celebrate the season in a safe environement. This year's grand marhsal is Lt.Daryl Mangrum, of the Prattville Police Dept. Mangrum, who is in charge of the local police department's youth services section, was diagnosed three years ago with terminal cancer.

Mangrum, who spent 23 years as a security policeman with the U.S. Air Force before joining the Prattville Police De­partment 12 years ago, fights ev­ery day to help children make decisions that will keep them from a life of crime. Even though he battles his disease daily, the kids that he helps are the reason he makes it out of bed each day.

"We are thrilled to have Daryl as this year's grand marshal. He is a shining example of putting others before self and is a walking inspiration to all of us", said Mayor Jim Byard, Jr.

"Three years ago, I was diag­nosed with renal cell carcino­ma,", Mangrum said. "My doctor told me that there is only a 4 percent survival rate, worldwide. He said I should go home, take medical re­tirement, and get ready to die." Mangrum didn't take that ad­vice. "When you're diagnosed with a terminal disease, you've got to have a reason to get up, and you've got to have some place to go," he said. "You can't sit home and feel sorry for your­self. When I get up in the morn­ing and put my uniform on, I'm enjoying myself." The 52-year-old officer, who was told he would not live to see his 50th birthday, said that it is often difficult to ignore the pain he suffers daily as he carries out his duties while taking 800 milli­grams of oral chemotherapy.

The parade will follow the new parade route which was used for the City's Christmas parade in December. The lineup will begin at the Autauga County Courthouse. From there it will take a left on 4th Street, a left on Washington Street, a right on Wetumpka Street, a right on Northington Street, a right on Main Street and return to the courthouse. The route has increased by half a mile, due to the large number of parade spectators.

Food vendors will set up at the Bank Trust/Partners In Pediatrics parking lot at Noon. Live Dixieland jazz music will be performed by Swing 'N Dixie and the Prattville Pops Jazz Ensemble.

Parade and vendor applications are available at Prattville City Hall, the Prattville Special Events/Cultural Arts Office or online at http://www.prattville.com/. Click on Cultural Arts/Special Events or call 358-0297.