Winners in the Whitfield County United Way Chili/Soup Cook-Off chili division were Amanda Stewart-Smith of Juvenile Court, Kaye Cope of Magistrate Court, and Angela Olalde of Probate Court.
photo by Mitch Talley
The weather was clear and chilly, setting the perfect mood for Whitfield County’s United Way Chili/Soup Cook-Off.
The annual event, held on Nov. 14, in the vending area at the Whitfield County Courthouse, raised $572.45 and a silent auction and a 50/50 raffle at the same time netted another $354.50 and $216.50, respectively, for United Way.
Coupled with money from a bake sale ($576.55) held on Halloween, Whitfield County government workers wound up presenting a total of $1,720 to the local chapter.
”Thank you to all who helped with our fundraisers,” committee Chairman Kristi Queen of the Tax Assessor’s Office said." It was a pleasure to be a part of helping those in our community that will benefit from the services that United Way provides.”
Twenty entries competed in the Chili Cook-Off, and five more people entered the inaugural soup competition.
Chosen as winners in the chili division were Kaye Cope of Magistrate Court and her Moo-Chili in the Richest Taste category, Amanda Stewart-Smith of Juvenile Court and her Inferno in the Hottest Taste category, and Samantha Splawn of Probate Court and her Buck Wild Chili in the Best Unconventional category. Winner in the Soup of the Day category was Angela Olalde of Probate Court and her Chicken Tortilla entry.
Other competitors in Richest Taste wereTerry Bryson of Public Works, Dirt Road Chili; Brenda Hoffmeyer of the District Attorney’s Office, St. Mark’s Preschool Award Winning Chili; Tim Warnix of Information Technology, Smoked Brisket Chili; Sharon and Randy Chambers of Tax Commissioner’s Office, Just a Bite; Allison Lance of Juvenile Court, Best Black Bean Chili; Scott Czerneski of 911 Center, Any ‘Ole Chili; Chris Blessing of Tax Assessor’s Office, Chili Red Bean Surprise; Robin Gravitt of Human Resources, Plain Jayne; and Kristi Queen of Tax Assessor’s Office, Mom’s Best Chili.
Also competing in Hottest Taste were Sharon and Randy Chambers of Tax Commissioner’s Office, Can’t Touch This; Recreation Department, Rec-N-Crew Chili; Dennis Arnold of Fire Department, Tex-Mex; and Randy Kittle of Fire Department, Devil’s Brew.
Three more entries in Best Unconventional were Shannon Chandler of Tax Assessor’s Office, Everything But…, Lee Miles of D.A.’s Office, Barbarque Pork Chili Verde; and Melica Kendrick of Clerk of Court’s Office, Turkey Taco Chili.
Other competitors in Soup of the Day were Terry Bryson of Public Works, Pot Hole Soup; Amanda Stewart-Smith of Juvenile Court, Born on the Bayou; Brenda Holcomb of Tax Assessor’s Office, Chili Breaker; and Jeff Sosebee of Tax Assessor’s Office, Tasty Taco Soup.
Samantha Splawn of Probate Court was one of the winners in the Whitfield County United Way Chili/Soup Cook-Off.
photo by Mitch Talley