District Governor praises Kiwanis

Members of the Kilgore Oilpatch Breakfast Club turned out to participate in the Greater Lakeport Kiwanis Club’s Chili Cook-Off. This was the first year for the local club to participate in the event. Although their entries didn’t win, they’ve started planning for next year. News Herald Photo by Brenda Allums Sherry Miller and Dwight Beck were inducted into the Kilgore Oilpatch Kiwanis Breakfast Club by Texas-Oklahoma Division 14 Lt. Gov. Bill Morgan at Friday’s meeting.

Also on hand was Texas-Oklahoma District Governor Jack Carlton.

Morgan told the Kilgore Kiwanians they “are doing the right thing ... you’re growing and you are providing service to your community.”

He praised the club on their work with and for children and told them he hopes they continue this practice.

“Remember the four I’s,” he said. “They are invite, inform, induct and involve.”

Morgan also said he was proud that the Kilgore Club has so many “young members .. but remember you’re never too old to help others.”

Rikki Oubre, along with the two new members, received “Together We Can” bracelets from Carlton.

Mike Sechrist, the club’s liaison with the Kilgore High School Key Club, was presented with a hat from Morgan for his work with the organization. The motto on the hat was “Focus on the youth.”

Members of the club turned out in force to represent their team at the Lakeport Kiwanis Chili Cook-Off held at the Trinity Baptist Church in Lakeport.

This year area Kiwanis Clubs were challenged to see which club would be the Chili Champion.

Winner of the event was the Lakeport Kiwanis with an entry cooked by Tony and Debbie Martin of Lake Cherokee. The Martins won the overall cookoff also.

Kilgore’s entries included Oilpatch Sludge, a recipe from Margaret Logston; and, Oil Slick, Mike Sechrist’s secret chili recipe. There were 15 entries in the competition.

“We may not have won this year, but we’re already planning for next year’s entry,” said Amelia Free, president of the Kilgore club.

Judges for the event were Mike Hyko of the Longview Police Department; Gregg County Judge Bill Stoudt; and, local radio personality Paula Prints.

Although not declared the winners of the cook-off, the team did not leave empty-handed. Free won a “Sock It To me Cake” and Lawanna Chrisman took home a set of luggage from the silent auction.

“It was a great event,” Free said. “It gave us the opportunity to meet members of other Kiwanis Clubs and help with a fund-raiser.”

Free said the local club has fund-raiser coming cooing up with names for their entries and working o them.

The club will be selling drinks at the Rod Run sponsored by the East Texas Treatment Center the end of March.