RESULTS and UPCOMINGS

“St. Charles IL—Our Chili Season is quickly coming to a close, but the fun will continue for a couple more weeks. What probably won't continue is the great weather. Saturday, Oct 11, we held the Great peppers CCO in spectacular 80° weather. We won't see this again until spring. The cookoff is held as part of the local Scarecrow Fest which attracts thousands of spectators. I think a good time was had by all. The winners:

CHILI
1. Bret Centers, Lisle IL
2. Bert Centers, Lisle IL
3. Charles "Bill" Thomas, Naperville IL
4. Roylene Johnson, Ottumwa IA
5. Gloria Molitor, St. Charles IL
6. Rick Geiger, Chicago IL
7. Bill Pierson, Batavia IL
8. Kathy Martin, Huntley IL
9. Pam Ward, St. Charles IL
10. George Molitor, St. Charles IL

SHOW
1. Gloria Molitor, St. Charles IL
2. Bill Pierson, Batavia IL
3. John Gastaldello, Downers Grove IL”
(Bill Pierson)

27th Annual NM State Open CCO Results are in and THE WINNERS of the 47 Chilis Judged were:
1. Janita Hinds-Del Rio, TX-Auto Q
2. Tim Collier-Snyder, TX
3. Robert Broncy-Cloudcroft, NM-1st NM-Auto Q
4. Tricia Tenery-Kerville, TX
5. Rick Thomas-Alto,NM-2nd NM-Auto Q
6. Bud Barrick-Organ, NM-3rd NM-Auto Q
7. Bucky Seelig-Fredericksburg, TX
8. Louis Gonzales-Paint Rock, TX
9. Karen Thomas-Alto, NM
10. Traci Bond-Kerrville, TX

Showmanship
1. Beat the Heat-Tom Chaney-Anthony, NM-Auto Q
2. Red Wolfe Chili-Tom Wolfe-Hobbs, NM
3. Stark's Dark-Paul Mulkey-Hobbs, NM

Fartherest Traveled-Franklin Gebert-Palacios, TX

The weather was great and we had a new location(Ruidoso Downs Race Track and Billy the Kid Casino) that brought out thousands of chili lovers. HEB brisket was served at the Friday night cooks pot luck dinner. Karen's sausage gravy and biscuits with an adult beverage was Saturday morning breakfast. Then the competition began. A BIG THANK YOU to all that helped. Everyone pitched in an got the job done. As everyone knows it is impossible to put on a cook off without our wonderful cooks. Rick and I look forward to seeing all of you back in Ruidoso next year. Bring a friend. We will need a lot of People's Choice next year to feed all of the public. We had about 3,000 spectators and Peggy Sue (of Buddy Holly fame and yes, there was a real Peggy Sue) as a celebrity judge.

“The Second Day Ruidoso Chili Society POD CCO had 29 Chilis Judged and the WINNERS WERE:
1. Karen Thomas
2. Louis Gonzales
3. Don Stoppiro-El Paso, TX
4. Larry George-Livingston, TX
5. Zanna Broncy-Cloudcroft, NM
6. Tim Collier
7. Bucky Seelig
8. Janita Hinds
9. Lynn Hejtmancik-Buda, TX
10. Nancy Coultas-Tuscon, AZ

Showmanship
1. Roadrunner-Nancy Coultas
2. Ol' Charlie-Charlie Beaver-Ruidoso Downs, NM
3. Red Wolfe Chili-Tom Wolfe

The Ruidoso Valley Noon Lions were our charity and will receive about $3,025 to use toward their programs.Again, thanks to all cooks, spectators, sponsors, judges, referees and anyone else that I may have missed.” (Rick Thomas)

POTPOURRI

“I finally figured out the only reason to be alive is to enjoy it.” - Rita Mae Brown

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