MONDAY - April 7, 2008

AVI Back 2 Back Weekend

It was a wonderful chili weekend. Andy & Jeep had the weather under control, the venue is right on the river and very relaxing (we've been told that the standard will be ramp/island area in the Spring and up by the buffet area in the Fall for protection from the wind), Fred Muirhead (AVI rep) not only had everything ready & waiting but he'd doubled the size of the judging area. On Saturday, Steve Porter was Chief Judge and did a beautiful job. He was laid back and having fun getting even for my harassing him at World; however he had his eye on every aspect of the cookoff. Even better was the couple of times questions came up, he simply responded with the proper questions without having to go to the rules (although he did have them with him in case he needed to pull them out). If you've not been to Inland Empire for the last couple of years you may not be aware that we have another well qualified Chief Judge we can tap. Jim Maehl was Sunday's Chief Judge and did his usual great job. Steve and Jim both commented on how smoothly the weekend went. Maybe because they were on the ball and neither really stressed all weekend. I'm sure it helped that both their wives (Linda Porter & Willma Maehl) were working and didn't have too much time to shop... Not that I got out to shop, but I saw some nice stuff coming into the cooking area. Susie did a great job of setting up this cookoff and Ron was working everywhere. Both were there to work anywhere needed all weekend. Scorekeepers both days were Donnie, Louise Dinneweth and Val Gereghty and as always the presence of the Lake Havasu Chili Society makes things go easier. We also need to thank Pete & Nicole Caimi and Bob & Ellen Dyer who were also in the judging area to help out where ever needed. If we had managed to have the usual 2 tables, we had more than enough qualified people to cover every aspect of both events, I'm afraid a few of our volunteers got bored, but it's a wonderful feeling to have more qualified people than you really need. No Stress, just smooth sailing and it feels good when the weekend is over. Oh, I almost forgot to thank Jim Beaver for the goodies, there was nothing left. And lastly whomever came up with the duck quackers, they were a hit but if my grandchildren had been there they would have been "lost" before the ride home!

It has been the practice at this cookoff for People's Choice to be optional and the winners to get 1/2 of the proceeds with the charity getting the other half. Tootie Gray puts together the kits and sells the tickets and the LHC Chili Society scores the event. This year the charity was the Rotary's Polio Plus Program (to eliminate Polio Worldwide) and our funds are to be matched by the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation. We raised $920 on People's Choice for a total donation of $1,840 for our People's Choice. Now the winners:

Tri State Regional, Saturday, April 5th

People's Choice

2nd Place (because the scores were very close $20) - Debbie Clark

1st Place - Chris Nicoll

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Salsa (12 Contestants)

3rd Place - Steve Wade

2nd Place - Paul Whitney

1st Place - Don Hammes

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Chili Verde (19 Contestants)

3rd Place - Barbara Herrin

2nd Place - Lenn Deevers

1st Place - Louis Gonzales

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Red Chili (25 Contestants)

5th Place - Barbara Herrin

4th Place - Maud Swick

3rd Place - Sonny Allen

2nd Place - Paul Whitney

1st Place (won a 3-way tie) - Dick Swenberger

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AVI (Aha Macav) Regional, Sunday, April 6th

People's Choice

1st Place - Armando Sanchez

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Salsa (9 Contestants)

3rd Place - Dennis Robinson

2nd Place - Russell Barns

1st Place - Pam Wright

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Chili Verde (14 Contestants)

3rd Place - Sonny Allen

2nd Place - Patricia Sanchez

1st Place - Pam Wright

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Red Chili (21 Contestants)

5th Place - Don Hammes

4th Place - Howard Choat

3rd Place - Sonny Allen

2nd Place - Barbara Herrin

1st Place (another 3-way tie) - Maud Swick

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Next year these cookoffs will be back on Easter Weekend.

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PERRIS VALLEY REGIONAL

-Saturday April 12, 2008

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Weather is looking great for this weekend's Perris Valley Cookoff!!!!

Setup time starts at 7:00 A.M.

I hope to see many Chili cooks there and those of you who are not cooking,

please come out and help judge

Thanks in advance,

Claude Covington, Chief Judge

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Clarksville Mo. Regional

Reminder for June 7th. Flyers are going out this week!!!!!!!!

Clarksville Mo. Regional

Riverfront Park

Clarksville Mo. 63336

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Contact:

Linda Blakey

lwblakey@sbcglobal.net

573-242-3920

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Let me save you a spot.( of course we have plenty of room for everyone.) The Riverfront Park by the Mississippi River is spectacular.

Lots of Artisans, and shops.

New Golf course too, (9 holes, with great views and real friendly course) Great Restuarant

Steamboat Inn and Rest.

Village of the Blue Rose

a fisherman's cottage(B&B)

Cedar Crest (B&B) are just afew of the places to stay. Clarksville Station Rest

Crown Valley Winery Port House

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We have lots to offer, come early Stay late.

Hope to see ya,

Linda

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Joy Bilozir

Just wanted to let all our chili friends know what is happening with Joy.
Last Wednesday she had an emergency Neurologist appointment because her right leg has not been working properly for a little bit. They decided to admit her and do an MRI to see if she had a ruptured disc (she does not). They then did an EMG (testing the muscle/nerve response) and discovered that she has significant nerve damage to her right leg. On Friday she had a lumbar spinal tap (fluid was clear but they are doing further tests). They have not figured out what is causing this yet. Tomorrow she will have a muscle biopsy and a more enhanced MRI to see if they can come up with a cause.
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Please keep us in your thoughts and prayers while they figure this out.
Randy Bilozir

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