FRIDAY - July 25, 2008

Illinois Chili cookoffs

HEARTLAND CHILI COOKOFF - Decatur Illinois August 2, 2008

It's still not too late to sign up for the Chilli Man Chilli Heartland Regional Cookoff to be held August 2. This contest will feature Red, Verde, and Salsa contests with a prize pool of over $1,700. This cookoff is held in conjunction with the 23rd annual Decatur Celebration – Illinois largest street fair. There will be a band performing during the cookoff, and other entertainment throughout the Celebration (including Edgar Winter, Otis Day and the Knights etc). As usual, we expect large crowds during the cookoff, and this year the weather looks like a typical sunny, warm August day. All winners qualify for the ICS World Championship this October. Check out our web site at http://www.decaturcelebration.com/index08.html. Call 217 622-3805 or e-mail Chilliexperience@Comcast.net for details or a flyer

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ILLINOIS STATE FAIR CHILI COOKOFF -Springfield, IL August 17, 2008

Please join us in the Miller tent at the State Fair for the last day of the fair. Tables will be provided and you will be under cover. There will be a road race in the morning, auto races during the day at the track, fair food all over the place and in the tent we will have two bands during the afternoon. This is a regional Chili Cookoff featuring Red Chili, Chili Verde, and Salsa Contests. Check out web site at http://www.agr.state.il.us/isf/index.php. As usual Red, Verde and Salsa winners advance to finals at the ICS World Championship. Call 217 622-3805 or e-mail Chilliexperience@Comcast.net for details or to be mailed a flyer.

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Larry Eastep
3920 Surry Place
Springfield IL 62711

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Donovan Update

Dear Fellow Chiliheads,

Please join us in a prayer of thanks and celebration of life!

As of July 23, 2008 Bill is in remission!

Praise God!

Chicago here we come!!!

Love & thanks for all of your prayers.

Bill "Gumby" & Gail

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TO GUMBY & GAIL

FROM Your fellowheads

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GREAT NEWS !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

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THURSDAY - July, 24, 2008

WORLD'S CHAMPIONSHIP 2008

The potential site and date for the WCCC 2008 is still undetermined. Every week for the past eight months, I've pushed for decisions from Board of Directors meetings, sponsorship decisions, planning meetings, etc. Since January, I have traveled to eight locations (some more than once) that expressed interest in hosting the event. In each and every case, there have been problems that could not be resolved either with the Health and/or Fire Departments or with funding. FYI - Omaha passed on the cookoff for 2008 due to lack of sponsorship funds caused by the current economy and also circumstances resulting from the flooding in the surrounding areas. We appreciate how difficult it is to plan for travel and time for the WCCC, b ut we can't limit our opportunities for a site by insisting on a specific date. I'm in contact with several other locations. I've been promised an answer from at least one of them by the end of this week. While I have been flexible in the date for the WCCC in an attempt to accommodate the wishes of the potential sites, I'm still targeting either the first or second weekend of October. An announcement will be made on this website IMMEDIATELY upon receipt of an agreement. We apologize for the inconvenience.
Carol Hancock
ICS

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WEDNESDAY - July 23, 2008

FireFighters & ChiliHeads

for GUMBY!

We would like to thank you for assisting GUMBY & our community through your gift of life at Hoxworth today! You can still continue to give in the name of Bill "Gumby" Donovan by call 513-451-0910, so give today!

Please join us Friday to continue showing

our support for Bill "GUMBY" Donovan!

"Fill The Boot" Fundraiser

Babe's Café ~ 3389 Glenmore Av. @ Applegate; 45211

July 25^th ~ 3 PM til closing

Stop by for various chilies, salsas, & other delights!

Call Geo Phelps for more details

at 513-207-1085 or GeoCincyFire@aol.com

PS: With the first run and due to rush charges the cost per shirt is about $10, so we will be selling the shirts for $12 each plus shipping costs. If any of the upcoming chili cookoffs are interested in quantity, just let me know, and I will try to get them out as a group package, so shipping costs will be less per unit.

Also, there is also an option for embroidery items such as attache' cases, gym bags, grocery type bags, polos, towels, aprons, and a lot of other options. If we are able to make it to the Windy City, I will probably have a few of the other items with me to display. I am giving Gail and Gumby the attache's and a couple of polos to keep their chili documents in while traveling the chili cookoff circuit. The grocery type bags would probably make great goodie bags!

TUESDAY - July 22, 2008

Vermont State Chili Cookoff

The Arlington VT Fire Company #1 has been putting on a carnival for the last few years. Last year they brought in the Vermont State Chili Cookoff and things were a little slow, but we had some good cooks. As with anywhere in New England in the summer, afternoon and evening thundershowers can pop up and make life difficult. Well, the carnival got hit on Friday night before the cookoff and every firefighter was at the site at 2 or 3 am putting the tents back up and the booths back together. They had already been working at the site for hours when the first chili cooks started rolling in Saturday morning. It was hazy, hot and humid, but the sun was out and we hoped the threat of afternoon storms would pass us by. The spectators started to wander in and taste some great chili. The judges had a wonderful time picking their best. Even Jerry Buma, our current World Champ was there giving out some People's Choice and helping us judge. We did watch some very dark clouds approach, but they seemed to go south of us, which made for some happy firefighters.

We thank all the men at the Arlington Fire Company #1 for the help and especially woodworker Jamie Paustian, who put together some beautiful framed pictures of the local Vermont scenery for the first place winners.

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And those winners include:

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Salsa

3^rd – Dave Schulman, CT

2^nd – Bob Myers, NY

1^st – Maureen Myers, NY

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Chili Verde

3^rd – Maureen Myers, NY(lost tie breaker for 2^nd)

2^nd – Mark Frechette, CT

1^st - Kathy Freedman, CT

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Red Chili

5^th – Mario Saccoccio, CT

4^th – Judi Omerza, PA

3^rd – Dick Dowling, CT (Lost tie for 2^nd)

2^nd – Mike Merola, CT

1^st – Kathy Freedman, CT

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It was a great day for Kathy. She was so thrilled. Congratulations to all the winners.

Submitted by Audrey Falkowski

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Tony Dalbis – Prayers are needed

Update

Well we went to to Dr. today and found out that the chemo he has been taking for the last 3 months has made no change.

It has not grown nor has it shrunk it is called stable. It also has not traveled anywhere else which was a good thing. So we had 2 choices, one was to take him off the chemo for a month and let his body relax and for him to get some strength back which he has none at all, or we can take him off of everything all together and turn it over to hospice, We well decided to just take him off for a month and then see what's up after that. She told him it is terminal and he didn't like that but we really knew that anyway from our very first visit, she just didn't use that word, but just cause it is terminal doesn't mean its tomorrow. But he was a little bit depressed after that.

He has lost almost 90 pounds so maybe now he will put on a couple.

We feel that all the prayers and faith have helped us thru this so far and it will continue.

Thanks for all the cards, prayers and calls it sure has helped in a awful time like this has been.

God Bless all,

Lois

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Rocky Mountain Regional and Colorado State Chili Cookoffs

Saturday, August 23rd

Sunday, August 24th

The cookoffs are a little over a month away, so plan on coming out to cool, sunny and beautiful Winter Park, Colorado for 2 days of qualifiers. Saturday, besides traditional red, chili verde, and salsa, there will once again be a "Guac-off" Guacamole division. A trophy will be given to the first place winner.

The cookoffs are at the base of the Winter Park Ski Resort, and it's one of the most awesome spots to cook at in the country (at 9000 ft). Rooms are available in Winter Park, with a 10% chilihead discount given when you call Winter Park Central Reservations @1-800-977-6198.

Cash and trophies will be awarded to 1st through 3rd places in each division, each day. Judges that come out year after year are experienced, and do a fine job in the judging area.

Please register on-line. Letters and cookoff information are being sent out by the end of this week to cooks who have been there before.

For more information, please contact: Patty McCarthy - Chairman

303-316-1689

PMcCarthy@skiwinterpark.com

OR

Bob Plager - NEW Chief Judge

720-244-0990

Bob98Champ@aol.com

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MONDAY - July 21, 2008

Northern California ICS Homestyle Chili Contest

Call for chili entries!

The Fairfield Downtown Association and Fire It Up Events are calling for entries to find the West Coast's "Best Homestyle Chili Cook" to compete in the Western Cooking Tour contest on Sunday August 17, 2008 for trophies and prize money. Entry forms must be submitted by August 10, 2008. To get your entry form visit -
http://westcoastbbqchampionships.com/forms

If you are a self-proclaimed ChiliHead and live in the Western United States, you are invited to enter this Homestyle Chili event. This event is approved, but not sanctioned, by the ICS and is open to anyone. ICS membership is NOT required and current ICS members are invited to cook. It's experimental and just for fun. In Homestyle chili, cooks are encouraged to get creative.

The chili contest is scheduled for the morning of Sunday August 17, 2008 and is just one part of the Fairfield Tomato Festival & West Coast BBQ Championships. Chili cooks who are also masters of the grill should consider entering the West Coast BBQ Championships Competitor division on Saturday August 16 – chili contestants who also want to enter this contest can do so at a significant discount.

Other activities for people to enjoy include live music, craft vendors, numerous varieties of heirloom tomato to taste, as well as many tomato related items for sampling, and a kids zone. The Fairfield Tomato Festival runs Saturday August 16, 2008 from 10am to 6pm and Sunday August 17, 2008 from 11am until 4pm, in downtown Fairfield, CA (West Texas streets from Pennsylvania to Union). Admission to the festival and plentiful parking are both free of charge.

The Fairfield Downtown Association is a volunteer-driven non-profit organization supporting the revitalization of Fairfield's historic town center. Fairfield is located mid-way between San Francisco and Sacramento on Interstate 80. In addition to being the corporate homes of Jelly Belly Candy Company and Guittard Chocolate Company, Fairfield is home to Anheuser Busch Brewery and Travis Air Force Base. For more information on the 17^th annual Tomato festival go to http://www.fairfielddowntown.com/ <http://www.fairfielddowntown.com/>

Fire It Up Events has numerous years of experience bringing people together and entertaining them. More than 500,000 people have attended events Fire It Up has been involved with in the last year alone! Fire It Up Event's goal is nothing short of making our events successful, profitable for our sponsors, enjoyable for our guests and memorable. For more info on the upcoming event please visit – http://www.westcoastbbqchampionships.com/
http://www.westcoastbbqchampionships.com/

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Fire on the Mountain Regional

17^th Annual

Snowshoe West Virginia - July 11 & 12

Another OUTSTANDING COOKOFF by the folks at Snowshoe!

Thanks to the direction and efforts of Chairman Cheryl Cassell, hundreds of volunteers and the backing of upper management starting with President Bill Rock, over 80 ICS cooks enjoyed a superb two day event at Snowshoe Mountain. The weather Gods also smiled for the second year in a row, producing a couple of "drop dead gorgeous" West Virginia mountain days; "CAVU" as we used to say back in my Navy flying days – Clear And Visibility Unlimited - with delightful temperatures to match.

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As has become tradition in the past few years, Friday included the Salsa and the Chili Verde competitions, followed by the Cooks' Party that evening at the Village Central. Saturday was the Traditional Red competition, with its $10,000 (yes, ten thousand dollar) First Prize.

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The competition both days was fierce, with easily well over 60% of the cooks being former WCCC Qualifiers, to include two Traditional Red World Champions. However, as is always the case with ICS, the camaraderie and relaxed "party atmosphere" prevailed throughout; chili cooks are the greatest and it just doesn't get any better for a hobby/avocation.

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Now for the results:

Salsa

3^rd Place Monica Parker

2^nd Place Laurin Lentz Staley

1^st Place Carrie Lentz Parker

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Chili Verde

3^rd Place Tonya Simmons

2^nd Place David Cobb

1^st Place Richard Chauvin

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Traditional Red Chili

4^th Place Kim Eckley

3^rd Place Laurin Lentz Staley

2^nd Place Janie Bauer

1^st Place Beverly King

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CONGRATULATIONS TO ALL THE WINNERS!

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However, the biggest winners were the "Challenged Athletes of West Virginia", the traditional charity for Fire on the Mountain, who had the largest dollar collection in the history of the cookoff. If you've never seen a video of what these athletes do, you're missing something special; big thanks to all the cooks who provided "People's Choice" and the crowd who contributed $$$.

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One final "attaboy" to the Snowshoe folks who did such a superb job! If you are a cook and have never cooked Fire on the Mountain, you owe it to yourself to do so; you won't regret it…as a matter of fact, it will be a special weekend and lasting "chili memory".

Sergei Kowalchik

Head Chili (Chief Judge)

P.S. Hope to see everybody at the WCCC

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Nevada Capital Regional

The overcast kept the temperatures down, and a nice breeze made Sunday perfect for cooking chili at the Nevada Capital Regional in Carson City. The results are as follows:

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Salsa:

3rd Dennis Robinson ID

2nd Geneva Holman NV

1st Dale Hart NV (first time cook)

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Chili Verde:

3rd Jim Beaver CA

2nd Dennis Robinson ID

1st Susie Decker CA

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Red Chili

3rd Voni Medcraft NV

2nd Scott Ruff NV (defending champion)

1st JR.Knudson CA (past world champion)

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SUNDAY - July 20, 2008

High Sierra Regional results

Beautiful warm day in Carson City without all the smoke from the California fires. 21 red cooks, 10 green and 8 salsas. The winners:

Salsa—

3rd Lynn Robinson CA

2nd Anita Kerr NV

1st John Jepson CA

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Verde—

3rd John Jepson CA

2nd Adrian Fuhrman CA

1st Ron Boisseranc CA

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Red—

3rd Dennis Robinson ID

2nd Gerry Lind CA

1st Adrian Fuhrman CA

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We all do it again Sunday in the Northern Nevada Regional

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"PARTY IN THE PARK"

28TH ANNUAL

LITCHFIELD, IL.

JULY 19, 2008

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This was the 28th year for Litchfield to host their annual "Party in the Park" summer event in downtown Litchfield on the grounds of the Carnegie Library. This is a beautiful setting at the 1904 Carnegie building and grounds, built by funding from Philanthropist Andrew Carnegie.

The Litchfield Chamber of Commerce members along with Executive Director, Nikki Bishop do an excellent job of putting this event on each year. This is a two day event with rides, food, crafts, stage, entertainment, farmers market, as well as the Chili Cookoff.

Steve Bryant, Chairman, has taken over running this cookoff now in its 26th year and started by Mr. Chili Man Chilli himself, Joe Defrates, 2 time World Champion.

Steve works very hard to make this annual event very fun and relaxing for the chili contestants, judges and the public participation.

Hats off to all the Litchfield Chamber members for their efforts for all these years.

As usual it was a typical July day in Illinois........ 90 degrees and 75% humidity. The only thing comforting about the weather was the light breeze blowing through the park all day.

Still this did not dampen the spirits of the chili contestants. Everyone had a good time. Everyone, includes some very high profile chili cooks, including four World Champions.

For a small District cookoff this was very tough competition.

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SALSA 8 contestants

9 judges

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4th (HM) = Jim Weller 8 pts (Rockton, IL.)

3rd = Paul Wessing 8 pts (Farmersville, IL.) won tie break

2nd = Jim Deere 10 pts (Pana, IL.)

1st = Jim Schmedeke 11 pts (Clinton, IL.)

CHILI 15 contestants

14 judges

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3rd = Dearl Thomas 9 pts (Clinton, IL.)

2nd = Tom Calvert 10 pts (Taylorville, IL.)

1st = Jean Simmons 10 pts (Florissant, MO.) won tie break

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As you can tell the competition was very close and challenging. The judges all remarked that is was very hard to determine their winners as they were all very good!

With Jim's Salsa win he is now qualified for the WCCC.

Also, Jean was a very happy person as this is her 2nd District win this year which also qualifies her for the WCCC.........It pays to cook your Districts!

Congratulations to all the contestants, they are all winners!

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Old Miners Regional (Big Bear)

It was a beautiful weekend in Big Bear! The Old Miners began the chili weekend with the Calcutta on Friday nite… Collecting over almost $1200 in the auction of chili cooks to win. This money was split 25% going to local cooks and 75% going to ICS competitors with 1/3 going to winning cook, buyer and Old Miners Association. As the full staff gathers Saturday morning we find, Mark Gaines working everywhere for Old Miners, Mark Sweeney as Chief Judge, Scorekeepers: Donnie Gordon, Val Gereghty, Melody Sweeney & Karen Ray, Wranglers: Bob Dyer, Sachiko Brecke, Armando Sanchez, Kelly Sweeney and her friend Amanda and of course, Mike Austin returned as Emcee. There were more events than you usually see (even a Whiskerino) and amazingly everything ran smoothly. Great Job and thanks to all!

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Best Booth: Van Sorrels

Perpetual Merchant's Trophy: Susie Collins, ERA Realty

Best Local Cook: Van Sorrels

1^st Time Cook: John Whitaker

Salsa (14 Contestants):

3^rd Place: Red Brecke

2^nd Place: Mark Yarter

1^st Place: Irene Menchaca – It's a Hat Trick

Verde (14 Contestants)

3^rd Place: Bob Wiseman

2^nd Place: Mark Haught

3^rd Place: Jim Beaty – Another Hat Trick

Red Chili (36 Contestants)

5^th Place: Bob Wiseman

4^th Place: Dennis Macklin

3^rd Place: Ken Brown

2^nd Place: Mike Ford

1^st Place: Dave Thomas

Local Calcutta: Buyer & Cook were both Van Sorrels

ICS Calcutta: Buyer & Cook were Mike Ford

See, it does pay to buy yourself at an auction!

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Congratulations to all the winners and Old Miners for a job well done.

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IDAHO STATE CHAMPIONSHIP CHILI COOKOFF
SATURDAY JULY 26, 2008
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Come join in the fun in Downtown Mountain Home

(a stone's throw from Boise!)

at the 26th Annual Idaho State Cookoff.

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Carl Miller Park is a GREAT place with lots and lots of HUGE shade trees.
Meet the wonderful hometown and Mountain Home Air Force Base folks at this event.

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All three Events will be ICS WORLD Qualifiers. (we need 7 entries in each category)
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SCHEDULE
Set Up Time
7:00 a.m. - 9:00 a.m.
Cooks' Meeting
9:00 a.m. ALL Categories
Chili Verde Preparation
9:30 a.m. - 10:30 a.m.
Red Chili Preparation
11:00 a.m. - 12:00 noon
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Cooking and Serving Times for PEOPLES CHOICE CHILI
Start Cooking
8:00 a.m.
Serving
11:00 a.m. - 3:30 p.m.
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Cooking Times
Chili Verde
10:30 a.m. - 1:30 p.m.
Red Chili
12:00 - 3:00 p.m.
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Turn in Times
Salsa 12:00 noon
Chili Verde 1:30 p.m.
Red Chili 3:00 p.m.

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Awards at approximately 4:30 p.m.
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FOR INFORMATION
Call Charlie Ward at 208-587-4924
travelinwards@q.com

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