NEWS

“Mel Neff is in the VA hosiptal at Dallas. He is to under go heart by-pass surgery this week. Please keep him and Sharon in your prayers and thoughts.” (Bruce Stewart)

RESULTS and UPCOMINGS

“St. Charles IL—Last Saturday, May 30 (the Real Memorial Day), the Illinois Ladies State Open and Men's State Open were held at Zylstra Harley-Davidson. After a cool and cloudy morning, a gust of wind interupted the awards ceremony (destroying two canopies), it did get up to 80°. The Living Well Cancer Resource Center and Cildrens Club Courageous were the beneficeraries of these cookoffs, and while I don't have the final numbers, I think they will be happy with the results.

We had 18 ladies and 20 men participate, plus three restaurants in the first attempt at this competition. There were some interesting story-lines in each gender division. On the ladies side, the top ten featured many familiar faces and one first-time cook at fourth place. The men's side was almost the same with a first-time cook taking tenth.

Candy Thomas had been having a tough time with points lately, but cooked quite a pot Saturday to become the 2009 IL Ladies State Champion. A pretty impressive way to say, "I'm back!" The other very grateful lady qualifiers were Georgia Weller (2nd) and Kathy Martin (3rd).

Wes Carlson scored a very impressive win in the men's competition, fresh off his victory in an ICS cookoff in Calgary ALB last Saturday. Second place Bill Thomas (yes, partner of the Ladies Champ) collected his second automatic-qualifier in May. Illinois' first qualified cook, Bret Centers rounded out the top three.

I could mention the six trophies that the Pierson family picked-up, but I won't.

LADIES CHILI
1. Candy Thomas, Naperville IL
2. Georgia Weller, Rockton IL
3. Kathy Martin, Huntley IL
4. Carol Centers, Westmont IL
5. Jennifer Pierson Shepherd, Montgomery IL
6. Gloria Stevens, Homer Glen IL
7. Julie Netser, Seymour IN
8. Jill Pierson, Batavia IL
9. Kay Fennel, Woodbridge IL
10. Cheryl Pierson, Batavia IL
LADIES SHOW
1. Cheryl Pierson, Batavia IL
2. Roylene Johnson, Ottumwa IA
3. Gloria Molitor, St. Charles IL

MEN'S CHILI
1. Wes Carlson, Loves Park IL
2. Bill Thomas, Naperville IL
3. Bret Centers, Lisle IL
4. Eric Shepherd, Montgomery IL
5. Jim Weller, Rockton IL
6. Mike Usiak, Chicago IL
7. Jeff Netser, Seymour IN
8. Bill Pierson, Batavia IL
9. John Gastaldello, Downers Grove IL
10. Ed Zielinski, Brookfield IL
MEN'S SHOW
1. Bret Centers, Lisle IL
2. Virgil Johnson, Ottumwa IA
3. Mike Stevens, Homer Glen IL”
(Bill Pierson)

POTPOURRI

Happy Anniversary to Rick and Karen Thomas.

“The world is governed more by appearances than realities, so that it is fully as necessary to seem to know something as to know it.” - Daniel Webster

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