DEMOPOLIS – It’s that time of year again – students are stuffing toilet paper in chicken wire and hanging shiny tinsel and garland on trailers in an attempt to fashion a winning float, challenges are issued to rival teams and spirit is more than just a word at Demopolis High School. It’s homecoming week.

The Greensboro Raiders are in for a struggle as the DHS Tigers gear up to “Storm through the season.”

“The theme this year is “Storming through the Season,” a DHS press release stated. All floats are to follow that theme, and students converged on the National Guard Armory Tuesday to begin work on that job.

“We have four class floats – ninth through twelfth – and nine club sponsored floats,” DHS teacher Nancy Tyson said as she watched the flurry of stuffing, streaming and decorating inside the armory.

“It’s really neat to see this organized chaos come together,” she said. “You look at it now and you think ‘how will it get done,’ but it gets done.”

The floats will be displayed during the annual parade, which is set to begin at 1 p.m. Friday. The parade will take a slightly different route this year, Tyson said, as it will begin at the Canebrake Players, turn up Walnut, left in front of the Post Office, and back down Main.

Entrants are required to register with parade directors at DHS prior to the parade, however, they must do so no later than today. Non school-sponsored organizations and individuals can participate in the parade if they register, but they will be required to pay a nonrefundable $5 entrance fee per vehicle. The fee must be paid by today.

All parade entrants must have their entry decorated according to the theme; no music will be allowed without prior approval from the parade directors or the principal; and no d/cor, displays, flags, insignia, or other such paraphernalia found to be injurious to anyone will be allowed.

The festivities will really get going tomorrow, as the DHS cheerleaders and band fire up the student body and guests during the traditional pep rally at 6:30 p.m. at the football stadium. A bonfire will follow at the high school campus.

All schools will dismiss Friday at noon, so that everyone can be in place to participate in or watch the parade at 1. The parade will feature the DHS football players and band, clowns, antique cars, alumni from DHS and U.S. Jones, and creative floats to be judged.

The Homecoming Queen will be announced at 6:45 p.m. with the ballgame beginning at 7:30 p.m.

A dance will be held for DHS students and their dates in the high school gym, where a photographer will be available.

For further information, contact Nancy Tyson or Ronald Roberts at 289-0294.