Barbecue to benefit local charity

If you enjoy good barbecue, country music, old-fashioned family fun, or helping local families in need, then you’ll love the fifth annual Shelton’s Memorial Fundraiser to be held this Saturday, Feb 12 at the VFW hall in Plains.

Participants will enjoy a baby back rib dinner, a pie and dessert silent auction, live music and the joy of helping local children as proceeds from the event will go to the Shelton King Memorial Fund, which benefits families during times of medical emergencies. Tickets will be $10 per person or $30 per family.

Almost seven years ago, Shelton James King passed away from complications of an acute seizure disorder before his sixth birthday. Since that time, Shelton’s family has donated approximately $8,500 to local families in memory of Shelton.

Event coordinator Tammy McAllister, Shelton’s aunt, saw the emotional and financial hardships her brother and his family endured during Shelton’s prolonged illness and decided to do something about it.

“We set up this memorial fund to do something about a problem that we knew was out there,” McAllister said, “Beside the fact that they were dealing with all of this emotional stuff, the financial part of it was just a nightmare.”

“We don’t care what your financial situation is, in immediate crisis, sometimes it’s not going to make a difference anyhow,” she said.

This year’s event will be held in lieu of Shelton’s Country Music Festival, which had become a favorite for many Sanders County Residents over the four years it was held.

At the event, dinner will be served at 4 p.m., local musicisans will begin at 6:30, the silent auction will close at 7 and the band will begin at 8.

Providing musical entertainment will be local acts including Darrin King, Shelton’s father, Lisa French, Amy Ross, Kim Beech and Shannon Browning.

The headlining band is a Johnny Cash cover act entitled The Cold Hard Cash Show, which will perform from eight until ten.

“We have always received so much support from the community when we put on the festivals the past years, and none of it could be done without volunteers,” McAllister said. “We will take help where ever we can get it.”

If you’re planning to bring an item to the dessert auction, contact Shirley King at DST Rental-826-RENT (7368).

For more information, call 826-7368 or 741-2212 or go to sheltonsmemorial.org.