Teams compete in first in chili cook off

The first-ever chili cook off put on by the Marshall County Sheriff's Department was a blast Oct. 21, with four teams participating.

The Holly Springs Fire Department took the trophy. The three other team cooks were Shane Goode, cooking for the Benton County Sheriff's Department, and Kelly McMillen and Jason Gurley cooking for the Marshall County Sheriff's Department.

Those sampling the chili included members of the sheriff's office and jail employees, justice court judges and deputies, Debby Weathers, Mayor of the Town of Byhalia with Thaddeus Purnell and police chief Ben Moore, members of the tax collectors office, employees with the county building and grounds department, and many others.

The event may become an annual event, according to deputy Bernita Fountain, emcee.

Cooking team participants and sheriff department employees wore pink in honor of breast cancer awareness month.

The cook off, the brainchild of Yolanda Jones, was organized to raise morale and to fellowship with other agencies, Jones said.

Employees have worked hard all year, and some fun would help them increase joy among co-workers.

Jones said employees at the sheriff's department were still enjoying the cheer generated by the event.

Thank yous go to the following for their donations:

• Carlisle's Cash Saver for ingredients for Benton County's chili team.

• E911 and Judge Mae Garrison for cold drinks.

• E911, justice court employees and judges Mae Garrison and Kathy Brittenum for the table of sweets.

• Reed's Big Star for hot dogs and buns contributed on behalf of the Byhalia Police Department.

• Sheriff Kenny Dickerson and the Marshall County Sheriff's Department for baked potatoes.

• Keefe Commissary in Pearl for sponsorship and donating all ingredients for the chili. Keefe is a supplier for the Marshall County Sheriff's Department.

• Tunica County Sheriff K.C. Hamp for sponsorship.