$4,500 from music

If you take a large helping of live bluegrass and country music, add some tender barbecue and then throw in a live and silent auction for a good cause, you'll end up with one savory recipe for a good time.

Last Saturday at the Sander's County Fairgrounds Shelton's Country Music Festival was dishing up this recipe from ten o'clock in the morning to ten o'clock at night. The festival was held for the third year in a row to benefit children with medical disabilities in Sanders County and honor Shelton James King.

The music festival and Shelton Memorial Fund, where the proceeds go to, were started in 2005 by the King family as a way to remember and honor Shelton James King who passed away in June of 2004 after suffering from an acute seizure disorder.

The King family helped run most of the concessions throughout the day as crowds filtered in and out of the fairgrounds. Darin King, Shelton's Father, said he arrived to prepare for the event at 8:30 a.m. and was going to cook until 10 p.m. or until all of the 200 pounds pork ribs were served.

“I enjoy doing it because it's a good cause. It's just a good chance to get people out to hear some good music,” King said and added that the event was good because people could have a good time while serving the community.

“If we can help people here, our local people, with whatever they need I think it's a great thing. A lot of people helped me out and my wife with Shelton and that's the good thing about it to give back to the people who gave to us,” King said. He explained that a hard part for the families who have children that have serious medical problems are unseen costs, things like traveling costs to get to hospitals, clothing and time taken from work.

Shirley King, Shelton's Grandmother, said that apart from the main cause of raising money for the Shelton Memorial Fund, she also enjoyed the cooler whether they had this year compared to last years festival. “There were more people who were out because it wasn't as hot and we had more bands,” Shirley said. “It was nice that the weather was good.”

Another positive part of the festival was the live auction. Business and locals from around Sanders County donated items to be auctioned off. The live auction raised more than $1,400 alone. One of the most popular items that sold for $160 was a certificate to a taxidermist.

Tammy Mc Allister, the coordinator for the event brought her family along and was enjoying the event. “Every year people step up to the plate to help out are so gracious and generous and giving and that always makes you feel good,” Mc Allister said. “The bands also love the fair grounds for a venue, they love the event, everybody whose here says that they're completely enjoying themselves.”

Two people of those people who enjoyed the event were Patty Erchul and here mother Jean Click. They said that they liked coming to the event because it was a good way for them to spend family time together. “This is our Mother daughter thing we do,” Erchul said. “We came out to listen to the music and relax. We're glad we came out.”