By Karah Wilson

karah@southerntorch.com

FORT PAYNE, Ala.— Boom Days in Fort Payne began ten years ago as an event to celebrate the history of Fort Payne. The event is held the third weekend in September with food, fun, and music. However, this event can’t go on without help from the city. Maurey Roberts was recommended by the Boom Days Heritage Celebration Committee to become Boom Days’ new chairperson.

“It’s an honor to be recommended for the Boom Days chair,” Roberts said. His position became permanent on Jan. 5. Roberts has had experience when it comes to events in the community. “The first event I became apart of was the Earth Day Celebrations at The Dreamfield in Lebanon. I worked with Donnie James, the owner, as well as Ed Turner on the technical side of the events. I continued working alongside each of them for the Boom Days Heritage Celebrations. It was not until the City of Fort Payne hired me to manage the DeKalb Theatre and be the City Event Coordinator that I began the business side of events. I also worked closely with the Park & Recreation Department on the 4th of July Celebration.”

Even though Boom Days isn’t until September, Roberts said there have already been actions taken for the 11th annual event. “The committee has discussed several ideas that we believe will be a great success,” Roberts said. “I’m most excited about working with the Boom Days committee.”

The Boom Days Committee makes a recommendation to the mayor and the mayor has the option to approve or deny the recommendation. However, Fort Payne Mayor Larry Chesser was unable to announce his approval of Roberts due to surgery recovery. Chesser approved City Councilman Randall Ham to notify the Boom Days Committee that Chesser had approved the recommendation. Collins Kirby, the previous chairman, had a contract with the Boom Days Committee and he had not renewed it.