This weekend included a number of interesting events for those who sought to get out of the house.
“Vino Need No Stinkin’ Brushes” was at 7 p.m., Friday, at the former Party Girls building on Iola’s downtown square. Hosted by Humanity House Foundation, the event offered participants the chance to socialize, paint, eat cheese and drink wine. Artist Angie Whitmore led the 43 guests by demonstrating how to create a masterpiece. Paint and brushes were supplied. Whitmore offered advice to anyone who felt uneasy about their artistic ability.
“Drink more wine,” she said.
Proceeds from the event benefited Humanity House Foundation.
SATURDAY started bright and early for members of the United Methodist Church Big Creek Chapel as they prepared for the 48th annual Whole Hog Day. They began cooking 175 pounds of sausage on grills at 6:30 a.m. outside the chapel.
“Looks like we will use most of it this year,” church treasurer, Neil Phillips, said.
The breakfast, which typically feeds around 275, is the only fundraiser the church holds. Members asked for free-will donations which go toward church projects. Guests indulged in biscuits and gravy, sausage and Danishes from 8 a.m. to noon.
Janis Reinhardt has been a volunteer biscuit-maker for the event since it began in 1969. Cleo Summervill, Chanute, used to mix up the biscuits from scratch at home and then bring them to the church to be rolled out.
“I guess we wore her out,” Reinhardt said.
For the last 10 years or so the ladies have been using a boxed mix. It takes 576 boxes of biscuit mix to feed all who attend, Reinhardt said. That process began at 5:30 a.m. with the help of Sharon Scarrow, Humboldt, and Debbie Cox, Chanute.
Although Reinhardt has been making biscuits for the event for more than four decades, she said she still has to practice every year.
A dry-run breakfast is on the Sunday before Whole Hog Day and feeds everyone who shows up for church.
Music was provided by a conglomerate of people from the surrounding areas.
A few famous people could be found packed in between the walls of the small chapel.
Marjorie Davis said her children, Jeff and Mike Moran and Marcie Gough are related to Mark Twain. One of the Morans married a Bogle, and James Bogle was married to Twain’s aunt Polly, she said. Bob Kittle, Chanute, said his maternal grandfather, Chester Griffin, is related to Betsy Ross. If that is not enough to peak interest, William Manfred Barbee, the first non-Indian child to be delivered in Neosho County, was born at the farm across the street from the chapel in 1864, according to Davis.
For anyone who missed it this year the tradition is likely to continue for a while.
“Some of us old people wanted to quit but the community won’t let us,” Richard Reinhardt, Erie, said. Some of the younger members of the church and local 4-H kids have stepped up to help.
SATURDAY and Sunday afternoons brought vendors out to the Riverside Park Community Building for the Humanity House Arts and Crafts Festival. A clothing swap took place from 1 to 4 p.m. on Saturday, and Tracy Keagle, Humanity House founder, cooked her Grandma Brewington’s chicken and noodles. Shoppers were able to purchase a meal that included the noodle dish along with a homemade dessert. Jamaal Dorsey, of Candles by Dorsey, demonstrated his candle-making technique every half-hour. Humanity House T-shirts and hoodies were available for purchase. Proceeds from the event benefited Humanity House Foundation.
THE ELSMORE Ruritan Community Club held its annual Soup and Chili Supper, 5 p.m., Saturday, at the Elsmore Community Building. The event, which benefits the club’s general fund, included dinner, a craft sale and a dessert raffle.
The club’s 50th anniversary will be celebrated April 22 at the Elsmore Community Building and the public is invited. Two charter members, Max Ludlum and Martin Henderson, will receive certificates. The event, which starts at 1 p.m., will include snacks, fellowship and music by Iola Middle School’s Drumming Circle Group. Uniontown District Governor, George Skeet, will speak.
With over 40 members, the Elsmore Ruritan Community Club is the largest club in the Middle America District, Club Secretary Clara Cunningham said.
ALLEN Community College held its Annual Red Scholarship Gala Saturday in the college’s gymnasium. The doors opened at 5 p.m. The event featured former Kansas City Chiefs players John Lohmeyer, defensive lineman, 1973-1977, Walter White, tight end, 1975-1980 and NFL Hall of Fame player, Curtis McClinton, running back-tight end, 1962-1970.
“I really like what they are doing here tonight,” Lohmeyer said. “It’s real important for Allen Community College to be successful.”
The event included dinner and a cash bar provided by Rookies Sports Bar and Grill, a silent auction, raffles, an auction, a wine grab, and music provided by Sound Decisions & Production. The silent auction included more than 100 items and the traditional auction included such items as a football helmet signed by Joe Montana and a guitar signed by the members of the rock group Foreigner.
More than 175 guests attended, according to Aimee Thompson, director of development.
GUESTS were treated to a potluck dinner and the musical talents of Peter Lewis Whitebird, Sunday, at Faith Assembly of God, Humboldt.
Whitebird appeared as part of the town’s monthly Singspiration event. Whitebird is a country Christian songwriter and singer from Topeka. He has had 18 top-three radio hits and 12 number-one singles on the national charts. He has recorded seven albums in Nashville.
He is the author of “Journey to the Center of Life.”
“It’s about who we are in Christ and how that makes the difference in our life,” he said.
More information on Whitebird can be found on peterlewiswhitebird.com.
SINGSPIRATION takes place the last Sunday of every month and alternates between local churches. It is a community event and the public is welcome. Each month dinner begins at 5 p.m. and guests are asked to bring a dish to pass. Music begins at 6 p.m.
“Sometimes it’s people who come (to eat) who perform but it varies from church to church,” Pastor Lew Griffith said.
Next month’s Singspiration event is April 30, at First Baptist Church, Humboldt.
