Continuously serving Kosciusko County since 1854
The final touches are being put on preparations for the Red Ball 2006 Mardi Gras May 6.
Cheryl Blakemore, co-chair of the event, said, "The band, The Midway Ramblers, is a genuine Zydeco band sure to get the crowd tapping their feet and dancing to true Cajun and Louisiana blues music."
The necklace featured in this year's live auction was donated by Bill and Susan Allen, Allen Designs. The pendant is 18K white gold with more than a half carat of brilliant-cut diamond set in a design highlighted with yellow diamonds. The chain is a 20-inch, 14K box chain.
The entertainment headliner will be seats for two to the Tim McGraw and Faith Hill concert July 12 in Indianapolis that includes an overnight stay. In addition to the necklace and concert tickets, the live auction will feature Lasik or cosmetic eye surgery (blepharoplasty) by Grossnickle Eye Center. The Chicago Blues weekend package includes tickets to a blues club and hotel stay. The Low Country Boil Party at a home on Syracuse Lake will feature tennis, water fun and dinner for 10.
Some of the other items available for the live and silent auctions are: theater tickets for four in Indianapolis, plus two hotel rooms; season tickets for two at the Wagon Wheel Theatre; and several dinner packages from local restaurants.
This year's planning committee is headed by co-chairpersons Dr. and Mrs. Larry Allen, Mr. and Mrs. David Blakemore and Mr. and Mrs. Matt Elliott. The committee also includes: Mr. and Mrs. Bill Allen, Mr. and Mrs. Toby Buck, Dr. and Mrs. Randall Cory, Mr. and Mrs. Jerry Ferguson, Dr. and Mrs. Bruce Grossnickle, Dr. and Mrs. Steve Grossnickle, Dan and Dr. Pamela Hann, Dr. and Mrs. Thom Howard, Mr. and Mrs. Mike Kubacki, Omer Kropf, Mr. and Mrs. Scott Lennox, Mr. and Mrs. J. Randolph Lowe, Mr. and Mrs. Wayne Luchenbill, Dr. and Mrs. Dane Miller, Mr. and Mrs. Tony Miller, Mr. and Mrs. David Montgomery, Mr. and Mrs. Larry Peppel, Mr. and Mrs. Larry Teghtmeyer, Mr. and Mrs. Jeff Thornburgh, Mr. and Mrs. Tom Tuttle II, Mr. and Mrs. Wayne Walston, Mr. and Mrs. Kevin Westover and Mr. and Mrs. Chandler Williams.
Red Ball Mardi Gras starts at 6:30 p.m. at Tippecanoe Lake Country Club. All proceeds from the ball will go to the local Red Cross. In the past five years, The Red Cross has received net proceeds of $166,700 from the ball. The deadline for reservations is Friday. For more information or to donate to the program, call The Red Cross, 574-267-5244.
