BATTLE MOUNTAIN - The Kingston Volunteer Fire Department annual picnic that was held at the Kingston Orchard and Lee Baker Park on Aug. 4 attracted a crowd of around 175 people, which was more than last year, said firefighter Shannon Thiss.
The event netted $6,500 that will be used by the fire department to pay for truck repairs, radios and safety equipment, said Thiss.
"It was the best picnic to date and the firefighters and picnic helpers did a fantastic job and worked very hard, as they do every year," said Thiss. "I am proud to be a part of such a great organization and community."
The event, which was organized by firefighters Dennis Lowe and Chip Colpitts with the help of the other firefighters, included a barbecue and refreshments, bingo, a cake walk, a duck race, horseshoes, raffles, gun raffles, live auctions, watermelon-eating contests, kids games and more.
Thiss said the watermelon eating contests and the duck races were two highlights of the event. Smoky Bear was there at this year's event, eighth annual picnic.
Food was served starting at noon and included a smoked tri-tip roast, hotdogs, hamburgers and homemade salads including pasta salad and potato salad, said Thiss. A bar was open and beer, wine, wine coolers, soda and water were served.
Round Mountain Gold donated the hotdogs, hamburgers, fixins' and roast, and community residents whipped up homemade salads and side dishes. The rest was paid for by the fire department, said Thiss.
The barbecue was $10 for adults, $5 for kids ages 6 to 10 and free for kids 5 and under. Firefighters, with the help of Austin firefighter Bob Woolley, cooked the food.
Starting at 11 a.m. was the sale of ducks for the duck races, raffle tickets and meal tickets and horseshoe tournament sign-ups. Raffle tickets were $1 each and were sold throughout the day. The prizes for the raffles and bingo and the live auction items were donated by individuals and businesses in Kingston and the surrounding communities.
The two guns for the gun raffles, a Hi-Point .45- caliber auto pistol and a Savage .243-caliber hunting rifle with scope, were purchased by the fire department, said Thiss. Winners of the gun raffles were Midge Carver and Bob Woolley.
Bingo prizes, raffle prizes and auction items included gift cards, two $50 gift certificates for the Toiyabe Cafe in Austin, gift baskets, a homemade knitted scarf, metal art, an afghan, a cherry pie, a homemade pillow, a hay bale, paintings, camping gear, fishing poles, tool sets, a table and chairs and much more.
There were 12 cakes for the cake walk and they were homemade by the firefighters and their families.
There was a bounce house for the kids. The kids games started around 1 p.m. and the duck races and cake walk kicked off around 2 p.m. Ducks were $5, said Thiss. There were two duck races.
The first, second and third place winners of the duck races shared half the cash pot. In the first race, Stan Kendall won first place for $31, Judy Bowman won second place for $22 and Colton Peterson won third place for $15.
In the second race, Jamie Kent won first place for $31, Jacob Ledesma won second place for $22 and Sophia Bretz won third place for $15.
The bingo went all day and several live auctions were held throughout the day starting at around 1 p.m. Bingo cards were $5 each. A horseshoe tournament was held throughout the afternoon starting around 1 p.m. The prize was half of the cash pot. The winners of the horseshoe contest were Travis Berg and Billy Berg, who also won the wheelbarrow race and received half of that cash pot as well.
The adult watermelon eating contest was won by Jessica Brant, who won a night's stay at the Red Lion in Elko. The kids contest was won by Madison Dobbs, who won her pick of the kids' toys grab bags.
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