I remember many years ago when a margarine commercial used the slogan, “It’s not nice to fool Mother Nature.” Well, I think we did and she’s getting even. Here in Central Texas, we’ve just followed the hottest summer in recorded history with one of the coldest Decembers. Now this:

“Forecasters are still predicting extreme cold weather in parts of Central Texas later this week, with low temperatures expected to dip into the teens — and possibly the single digits — in some areas.”

RESULTS and UPCOMINGS

“Indianapolis, IN – 28 cooks from 6 states traveled to Indianapolis, Indiana on New Years Eve to see what all of the Hoosier Hysteria was about. By 12:15am on January 1, 2010, Donna Hillen from Southaven, Mississippi was crowned our inaugural Champion. With temperatures outside dipping into the single digits, inside the Country Inn and Suites Hotel, was a toasty environment with the aroma of chili. Cooks from Maryland, Georgia, Mississippi, Kansas, Illinois and Indiana cooked and rang in the New Year with their friends and chili family. As the clock struck 12midnight EST, Champagne flowed and the winners were announced, resulting in the first points of 2010 being awarded. Results were:
Chili:
11th Place (Kiss your Sister) Jen Windsor, Severna Park, Maryland
10th Place Tonya Jester, Indianapolis, IN (Q)
9th Place Peggy Velasquez, Mission, Kansas
8th Place Georgia Weller, Rockton, Illinois
7th Place Rena Jones, Horn Lake, Mississippi (Q)
6th Place Jack Windsor, Severna Park, Maryland
5th Place Rodney Foshee, Southaven, Mississippi
4th Place Rodney Jones, Horn Lake, Mississippi
3rd Place Julie Netser, Seymour, Indiana
2nd Place Jim Weller, Rockton, Illinois
1st Place Donna Hillen, Southaven, Mississippi

Show:
1st Place Bob Hoffman, Fort Wayne, Indiana

Finals Table: (In no particular order)
Jen Windsor, Jeff Netser, Darin Jester, Wes Carlson, Trent Atwood, Natalie Atwood, Ken Swart, Lee Kroencke

Tonya and I would like to thank everyone who came out and helped make this event a success. We are looking forward to 12-31-10 so we can do it all over again.” Darin Jester

POTPOURRI

Happy Birthday to Bill Riordan.

“It is inaccurate to say that I hate everything. I am strongly in favor of common sense, common honesty, and common decency. This makes me forever ineligible for public office.” - H. L. Mencken

News items and pictures for the CHN can be emailed to pepperdean@ctesc.net