Cascade folks rock another charity dinner
By Paul Tash
Montana Tavern Times
They may not have exactly rocked around the clock, but party-goers at the annual Cascade County Tavern Association charity dinner sure looked like they were having a good time at the 50s-themed affair at the Great Falls Civic Center.
The Cascade event, always one of the largest tavern dinners in the state, drew a good crowd again for its 41st edition Dec. 7.
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| Colleen Hayes looks to sell some lucky dice to a fun-loving group. |
Gary Ehnes and Jon Tovson were masters of ceremonies. John Hayes, executive secretary of the CCTA, led the dinner's organization.
The three looked the '50s part, too, as they donned rolled-up jeans, white t-shirts, a leather coat or bowling shirt and slicked-back hair. Full pompadours, however, weren't to be seen – not quite enough hair anymore, one would expect.
Three bars were stocked and staffed as the cocktail hour opened the proceedings at 6 p.m., and a delicious prime rib dinner followed at 7:30.
These events always involve plenty of food, fun and drink, but mostly fun. Games are played all night and provide attendees chances to win prizes and cash. Party-goers also bid on a splendid array of fine merchandise in a silent auction.
Young women athletes from University of Great Falls assisted in selling tickets and were helpful in many other ways.
Numerous raffle drawings for cash were held, along with games of heads-or-tails. Everybody got to play the first round of heads-or-tails for free for a chance to win $100. The second round had a $20 buy-in but paid out $1,000. Mandi Lapierre had her hands on her head to win the big game and the $1,000.
The big drawing of the evening is, of course, the "Calcutta" raffle.
Those who have purchased dinner tickets were automatically entered into the drawing for seats. Fifteen tickets are then drawn for each of 10 seats at the head table, with one of the 15 picked to take possession of the seat and remain in the running to win.
Another seat winner is drawn from "last chance" tickets, which were sold for $10. The final 12th seat is auctioned.
The 12 seats were filled by Century Amusement, Big Johns, Heritage Inn, the Halftime, J&V Restaurant Supply, Borries, Double Shot Junction Coffee, Eklund Appliance, Gusto Distributing, Montana Commercial Credit, Whitney Wilkinson, and the Flamingo, which ponied up $1,600 in the auction to win the 12th seat.
The big winner was Cal Eklund of Eklund Appliance, who took home $2,500. Winning second place and $1,500 was Liz Blankenship of Double Shot Junction Coffee, while Lyla Ebert of the Heritage Inn lasted long enough to win third and $1,000. The “losing” Calcutta contestants won $200.
Other winners during the night's raffles included Shawn Brown, who won $500; Robin Roberts, who took home a necklace; Andy Thomas, who won a rifle; Mark Grasseschi, who will be eating free dinners at several local restaurants; and Martin Larson, who won a gun safe.
In addition, Buzz and Kathy Erb purchased a beautiful antique slot machine for $2,300 in an auction.
The biggest winners of the night, as always, were the dozens of worthy charities in the Great Falls area that the CCTA benefits.
“The Cascade County Tavern Association membership feels proud and privileged to be an active part of this community,” the association states in its dinner pamphlet. “We pledge to work and do our part to make Great Falls and Cascade County a better place to live and work.”