This spud's for you

Friday, October 19, 2012
Paul Wright grabs a potato for the oven while Jared Witt works at the stove in the kitchen of the Scottish Rite Temple during the Rotary Loaded Potato Feed, one of the club's biggest fundraisers.(Jason E. Silvers/Tribune)

The annual Fort Scott Rotary Loaded Potato Feed bought plenty of spud fans to the Scottish Rite Temple on Thursday.

"We have 550 potatoes and we have approximately 16 high school Interact Club kids helping us ... and 40 Rotarians," Chairwoman Belynda Davenport said.

The roughly 540 diners had their choice of chili, cheese, onions and sour cream for their potatoes, topped off with homemade desserts provided by club members, Davenport said. Approximately $3,000 was raised.

"We have our noon rush, then we slow down. Four to 6 (p.m.) will be busy again," she said.

This is the organization's second-largest fundraiser after Dancing With Our Stars, which will be Feb. 2 at the Danny and Willa Ellis Family Fine Arts Center on the Fort Scott Community College campus.

Interact Club Sponsor Lisa Ward bought about 10 youngsters with her. Interact is the youth version of Rotary.

Fort Scott High School juniors Caleb Gazaway, Chris Carrillo and Jash Pytlowany have all given of their time at the feed for three years and they enjoy being in the group. "I think it gives us good leadership qualities," that they will carry with them not only through college but in their future careers, Gazaway said.

Walmart provided drinks and ice and Manager Paul Wright is the Rotary president. Sponsors include 5 Corners Mini Mart, the Meeks Law Firm, Fort Scott Area Chamber of Commerce; Union State Bank; Sekan Printing Co.; Good Ol' Days; Interact Club; Rotary International; Front Door Real Estate; Fort Scott Area Community Foundation; Captured Images; Shirt Shack; H&R Block; Shepherd Team Auto Plaza; Mercy Health for Life; Larkin Witt Financial Group; Citizens Bank; Libation Station; Ch Witt Funeral Chapel; Phil Hammons, Hammons Realty Co.; Wise Tax & Accounting; Diehl, Banwart and Bolton, certified public accountants; and UMB.