DEMOPOLIS-Only days remain for contestants to throw their hat in the ring for the second annual Marengo Idol competition. The deadline for registration and payment will fall on Monday July 18.

Currently, the numbers are better than last years. However, Wayne Kirk, who is organizing this year’s Marengo Idol competition, said he would like to see the numbers climb even higher.

“Right now we have seven people paid and ready,” Kirk said. “That is two more than we had last year. We are hoping a lot more will come through over the weekend.”

Kirk said 10 more applications were still pending payment.

Human nature normally causes people to hold out until the zero hour. Kirk asked everyone to remember this hour was fast approaching.

“Like anything else we expect people to wait until the last minute,” Kirk said. “But we want to stress that the deadline is coming up. Hopefully this weekend we will get a lot of response.”

Kirk said he hopes to build off last year’s success. The first annual Marengo County Idol had a wonderful turnout and Kirk said he expects more of the same this year. Like last year, the winner of this program will be given a shot at the big show, Fox’s American Idol. Kirk said they are keeping the same plan in place this year because of last year’s success.

“We are trying to keep the same format as last year,” Kirk said. “We had a lot of success and we don’t want to stray from that. We are going to try to do some other things too.”

The qualifications for the contest are simple. Anyone age 16 to 28 is eligible provided they are a solo act and keep their songs are kept at three minutes or less. There will be no rap and no explicit lyrics allowed and a $20 entry fee will be required.

The program will be held August 6 at 5 p.m. in the Demopolis Middle School gymnasium. Tickets for the event will be $8 in advance and $10 at the door.

This years show will also feature two big names in Amy Kelley, the Producer of WAKA’s CBS 8 This Morning and CBS 8 News at Noon, along with Ashley Paige, Anchor of CBS 8 This Morning and CBS 8 News at Noon who will serve as judges.

A meeting has been planned for May 6 at Mr. G’s at 6:30 p.m. to get more details put together.

For those who need more information on the contest or would like more information on qualifying please contact Kirk at 289-2423 or Warren at 289-2092.

Kirk will be out of town until Monday and asked that interested parties contact J.B. Warren or Virginia Norman until that day.

A nonrefundable $20 entry fee is required for contestants. Applications can be picked up at Demopolis City Hall, Pizza Hut, Captain D’s, Robertson Bank, the Smart Shopper and the Demopolis Times.