Money raised at Heritage Days

Several fundraisers were part of Heritage Days this past weekend, and organizers say they went well for the most part.

The Portales Recreation Center held fundraisers for youth sports during the events last weekend.

Athletics Director Michael Doerr said the dunking booth made $200 Saturday.

“We had the biggest crowd there for the whole two hours,” he said.

Also, six teams, each contributing $50 to city-league sports, participated in the kickball tournament later that day.

The planned talent show was canceled because too few people entered, Doerr said, but he planned to try the activity again later.

The weekend fundraisers brought in enough money for a set of catcher’s equipment for one of 15 youth softball teams in the city league, Doerr said.

As for the Jackpot Barrel Race on Sunday, organizer and Cowgirls Rodeo Association Vice President Susie Thomas said it went well.

“Everybody had a good time, even though it was hot,” she said.

Thomas didn’t yet know how much the race raised for CGRA, but she said about 80 people entered. That number is a little up from last year, but a little down from the year before, which was the race’s first year, she said.

“I think the heat had something to do with it,” Thomas said.

Next year, she said, CGRA will hold the race in the evening and maybe part in the morning to avoid the high temperatures.

In the competition, Kelly Sparks of Fort Sumner had the fastest time.

“Nobody was even close to her,” Thomas said.

Finally, the Cookies for Kids’ Cancer bake sale, organzied by Eastern New Mexico University student Marissa Hyde, raised $1,700.22. Hyde said the turn-out was good and a lot of people helped.

She plans to hold another bake sale in conjunction with a later community event, but hasn’t decided when, she said.