The Lake Mitchell Home Owners Boat Owners put together their first “poker run” that was held June 20.

HOBO has been giving a $2,500 scholarship to a qualifying student from either Chilton County or Coosa County for the past seven years. The latest winner was Ashley Lanier of Chilton County High School.

Scholarship funds come in from donations by members or from the sale of calendars HOBO has produced with photos taken and submitted by individuals around the lake.

Rebecca Beaty, scholarship chairwoman, and other HOBO members thought it would be great if there could be two scholarships presented next year, and having a lake poker run was suggested to raise the extra money. The committee met and got the wheels turning to make it happen.

The run was held from 4-7 p.m. and began and ended at Higgins Ferry Park. After the participants registered and paid their $25 donation, they received a packet that included a map to the piers of the dealers.

Nancy Piccolo, coordinator and poker host, gave instructions on how participants should go to each pier and draw a card. The dealer was required to sign their name by the card drawn on the participant’s sheet and log the participant’s name by the card drawn on their sheet.

After going to all eight piers, participants were to return to Higgins Ferry and choose their five best cards, which were presented to the poker host.

The winner of the cash prize was Jordan Harper from Birmingham, guest of the Crocker family on Lake Mitchell. Other prizes donated were dinner and dessert at Lake Mitchell Marina, dinners at San Marcos Restaurant, oil change at Baugh Ford, dinners at Three Amigos, gift cards by Walmart, hats from Tractor Supply, dinners at Main Street Café, gift certificates from Sam Piccolo and HOBO T-shirts.

Dealers were Becki and Mau McCallum, Troy and Tina Crocker, Dan and Judy Murchison, John and Kathy Redd, Phil and Betsy Ward, Eric and Rose Green, Chuck and Carol Traetto and one couple who totally got in character for the event: Jim and Johnye Woodrow. They even had their dog dressed as the king of hearts. The dealers had as much fun as the players.

Thanks to the scholarship committee—Rebecca Beaty, Nancy Piccolo, Nan Spivey, Steve Miles, Carol Traetto and workers Sam Piccolo and Lee Poe—who worked hard to pull off this event.

Most of all, thanks to all who participated. There is now $1,157 in the scholarship fund. If anyone would like to donate to this worthy cause, send a check to Lake Mitchell HOBO, P.O. Box 1324, Clanton AL 35046 and designate it for the scholarship fund. All contributions are tax deductible.

Peggy Bullard is a community correspondent for The Clanton Advertiser.