By Peggy Bullard

The lake has definitely come alive with activity, which is expected by the middle of May every year, and this one has been no different.

Boats, wave runners, tubing, skiing and wakeboarding all come with squeals of laughter, and that is the way it should be here on Lake Mitchell.

To add to all the activity, our second annual Lake Mitchell Home Owners and Boat Owners Poker Run was held from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. June 4.

The poker run was started as a means to raise money toward the scholarship fund. HOBO awards a scholarship to highly qualified students from Chilton and/or Coosa County each year. Although we didn’t have as many participants this year, we did raise $750 toward next year’s scholarships.

Other funds come from donations, which are tax deductible, and the sale of the Lake Mitchell calendars.

The event starts at Higgins Ferry, where you sign up and receive a packet with a score sheet, map and written directions to eight dealers’ piers. Having a boat is mandatory for this poker run.

When participants arrive at the pier, they pick a card. The dealer signs off on the player’s sheet and logs a record of the drawing on their sheet.

Out of the eight cards drawn, the player will pick their top 5 cards to be presented to the judges back at Higgins Ferry.

The judges check the cards and will compare with the dealers’ sheets for accuracy.

The grand prize is a portion of the total cash collected. Stephanie Helms of Montevallo, a guest to Lake Mitchell, was the grand prize winner.

No one went away without a door prize this year thanks to all the donations from businesses and friends. Each packet had a ticket included, and as participants returned to Higgins Ferry, numbers were drawn until all prizes were awarded. Everyone had a great time.

We would like to thank the Scholarship/Poker Run Committee for all their hard work. Nancy Piccolo, Rebecca Beaty, Rose Green, Nan Spivey, Steve Miles and Lee Poe, you once again came through for the HOBO organization.

Donations were received from San Marcos Authentic Mexican Restaurant, Walmart, Wiley & Josie’s, Bertolone’ Italian Café, B’s Market, Main Street Café, Hollywood Nails, Cakes & Candy, Show Room Liquidators, Baugh Ford, Clanton Laundry, Brenda’s Barber Shop, Crystal’s Barber Shop, B B’s Bake Shop, CVS, Tractor Supply, Nellie and Bobby Austin, Trendy Chic Boutique, Bar-D, Save Mor Associated Grocers, BMiller Art and Design, MorLyn’s Jewelry, Troy and Tina Crocker, Lake Mitchell HOBO and Pizza Hut. Thank all of you! We could not do it without your support.

HOBO members ended the day with the annual picnic and band at Higgins Ferry. It was a long fun day, and the summer is just getting started.

Peggy Bullard is a community correspondent for the Lake Mitchell area. Look for the next installment of her column in a future edition of The Clanton Advertiser.