TERRY VALENTINE The North Carolina couple and law enforcement agencies who helped put an end to a series of murders in Cherokee County will be special guests in Saturday's Peach Festival parade.

Mike and Terry Valentine of Dallas, N.C., confirmed Monday afternoon their plans to participate in the festival's parade, event chairperson Darren Mason said.

The Valentines made the phone call on July 6 which resulted in Gaston County police officers fatally shooting Patrick Tracy Burris. Police have identified Burris as the man responsible for five murders in Cherokee County between June 27 and July 2.

"We are pleased the Valentines will be coming to participate in the Peach Festival parade," Mason said.

The parade will begin at 9 a.m. at Thomson Park and run through downtown Gaffney before disbanding on Railroad Avenue.

Following the parade, the festival has scheduled presentations at 11 a.m. by Crime Stoppers and the American Red Cross.

The Valentines are scheduled to follow parade grand marshall Kenneth Wright in the parade.

At this point, Mason said he could not confirm whether Gaston County was sending any of the officers involved in the Burris shooting.

"We will have representatives in the parade from the different law enforcement agencies which were part of the task force," Mason said.

A total of 25 law

enforcement vehicles are listed in the parade lineup released by the Peach Festival on Tuesday. The list includes representatives from police agencies in Spartanburg, Union, Newberry and Cherokee counties in South Carolina, and Gaston and Rutherford counties in North Carolina.

The festival has 63 entries in the parade.

The parade will be led off by riders participating in a charity bike ride Saturday at 9 a.m. to benefit former Cherokee County Coroner Joe Vinesett. Proceeds go to help pay hospital bills for Vinesett.