The Daily Dispatch

Labor Day weekend was another holiday for many to stay in the area in order to save money. Staying in the area had its perks as there was plenty to do. Mooreton held its annual Labor Day celebration, tacking on two extra days for its 125th anniversary. The Chahinkapa Zoo and park saw many visitors as did camp sites. Fishermen found their niche along the Red River in the Twin Towns.

The Korinek family of rural Breckenridge ventured to Chahinkapa Zoo for an outing on Labor Day. "It was Madeline's idea," said Shawna Korinek, Madeline's mother. "She really wanted to come here today."

Normally this time of year, Steve Korinek is still in the field harvesting. "We don't really go anywhere [for Labor Day]," said Shawna.

However, the Korineks celebrated with family by attending a barbecue at a relatives home.

Labor Day was busier this year at Chahinkapa Zoo, with 2,168 people visiting, said Zoo Director Kathy Diekman. Sunday saw the most visitors with 803. "That even surpassed Father's Day, which is usually biggest day of the year," Diekman said.

She added that attendance over all for the season up since last year. More people visited this year because of the weather and there were a lot of first time visitors, Diekman said.

"It was the perfect zoo weather weekend," she said. "We got representatives from different cities and by the end of the season we usually have all 50 states and well over a dozen countries represented."

The Mooreton Labor Day parade also drew a huge crowd. People lined the main street for a 45 minute parade consisting of fire trucks, ambulances, tractors and floats all throwing candy for eager children.

Events throughout the weekend brought people from all over to the Mooreton area for Labor Day weekend. Saturday afternoon, groups of fishermen gathered at Mooreton Pond for a youth fishing derby. Sunday and Monday, outdoor enthusiasts went to the gun range north of Mooreton for a turkey shoot. Motorcycle and vintage car owners signed up for a run Sunday afternoon.

Many people around the area travel to the lakes on weekends and others for holidays, but this Labor Day weekend found many staying around for festivities.

"We're not lake people so we stay around here," Shawna said. "The kids start school [Tuesday] so we try to get ready for that."

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