Contestants ready to fire up grills for charity

By JASON MULLIS - Times-Mail Staff Writer
Even before the flames in the grills are lit, things are heating up with the contestants in Saturday night's Taste of Lawrence County cook-off. The event, which will be at the Lawrence County 4-H fairgrounds, will feature several city leaders pitted against each other in friendly, albeit high-stakes competition.

"I'm just looking forward to helping the United Way, and having fun with it," said Mitchell school Superintendent John Lantis.
He will be competing for the title of best chicken breast against North Lawrence Curriculum Director Ron Snapp.

The event, which is designed to raise money for the United Way, is also divided into the campaign divisions of the United Way and is fielded by city leaders involved in each of those fields. Aside from the educators grilling chicken, medical representatives from Lawrence County will be attempting to prepare the most appetizing rib eyes.

When asked if he was nervous over the upcoming event, Bedford Regional Medical Center's Jim Pittman said. "No, they are the ones who have to be more concerned." He was referring to Dunn Memorial Hospital representatives Rick Wallace and Mark Britton, who won the competition in their division last year.

"They have more to lose than we do," Pittman joked.

He made the decision to pull in a ringer for this battle, recruiting the owner and chef of the Empress Court in Bedford, Sarah Wong.

"I'm excited," said Wong, who was appreciative of Pittman's choice to have her assist in the competition. "Me and my husband have been talking about how to arrange the presentation."

Pittman is glad to have the help.

"She's helping me out immensely," said Pittman, who admitted a lack of experience in his category of combat.

However Wong is not the only contestant that has been eagerly preparing to meet in the amicable contention tomorrow night. Paul and Patty Ford of GM Powertrain will go against Capt. Dan Wise and Armando Perez from the Naval Surface Warfare Center-Crane, in the industry category.

"I didn't get much sleep last night, because my husband asked me two questions," said Patty Ford, who will help her husband create what they hope to be the tastiest shark steak.

The first question was regarding the entrance that the team will make, and second was directed towards their look. The competition will definitely decide who is the best cook, while at the same time taking into consideration creativity, outfits and overall table presentation, including side dishes and drink.

For her part in the competition, Patty Ford admitted that she wasn't totally familiar with the preparation of shark steak, and had been calling in a little help of her own. After a trip to Bloomington to purchase cuts of swordfish, yellow fish, finfish and scallops, she then placed a call to the Bloomington Red Lobster for a little professional advice.

"We are practicing," said Ford, hoping to invoke a little fear into her opponents.

The married duo also has prepared special jackets to accent their uniforms, all of which were donated by Love & Scrubs for the event. They even considered looking for a Hummer to drive to the grounds, possibly to compete with Wise and Perez, who are rumored to have procured a military desert patrol vehicle for their entrance.

The last category is possibly creating the most heat, and first-time participant Bedford Mayor Joe Klumpp will compete with returning champ Mitchell Mayor Morris "Butch" Chastain. With the help of Bedford Chamber of Commerce President Adele Bowden-Purlee, Klumpp hopes to grill the best pork chop, against Chastain and his wife Nellie.

"We're probably going to win," Klumpp said. He cited Chastain's victory last year, as proof that Bedford representatives were due, in the mayoral category of competition.

He also said that after conferring with previous contestant and past Bedford Mayor John Williams, he had come to the conclusion that the presence of Mitchell residents on the judge's panel clinched the victory for Chastain last year.

Each contestant was tight-lipped about strategy and presentation, with Klumpp only willing to admit to "top-secret strategies," being employed this year. And through all of the good-natured joking, and friendly competitiveness, every single person was focused on the goal of raising money for a good cause.

"It will be good fun," Klumpp said. "And good awareness for United Way."

The grill-off will begin at 3:15 p.m. and will last one hour.

Times-Mail Staff Writer Jason Mullis can be reached at 277-7278 or by e-mail at jmullis@tmnews.com.

Fun food fest

What: Annual Taste of Lawrence County featuring area restaurants.

Why: Kickoff event and fund-raiser for the United Way campaign.

When: Saturday, 3-8 p.m.

Where: Lawrence County 4-H Fairgrounds Expo Hall.

How much: Prices vary by age.

More information: Call the United Way office, 277-0493.