Serving the High Plains
Serving the High Plains
The two last ticket holders decided to split the $15,000 grand prize Saturday at the Altrusa International of Tucumcari's annual Cash Party.
Pablo and Gonie Lopez, and Ruth Nelson were not present at the party held at the Quay County Exhibition Center and had to be contacted by phone and informed they were the last two ticket holders, said Kimberly Hanna, Altrusa communications chair.
Hanna said they were asked if they wanted the drawing to continue, were one would twin the grand prize of $15,000 and the runner up a prize of $500. She said they were also asked if they'd prefer to split the two prized and take home $7,750 each.
Hanna said the ticket holders both agreed to split the prize rather than continue with the final drawing. She said if they had drawn the first ticket one would have received the $500 and the remaining ticket would have won the grand prize.
Altrusa uses proceeds of this event to benefit various community service projects throughout the year.
This year Altrusa donated $10,000 to the Tucumcari Train Depot, partnered with Canadian River Soil & Water Conservation District and purchased painted lady butterflies for Tucumcari Elementary School and the drip system hardware for Dunn Park Xeriscape Garden, said Relissa Nials, Altrusa president.
Nials said the organization also volunteered their time helping at Earth Day at the Outdoor Classroom, "Get Moving Quay County" Fun Run, the Quay County Community Wellness Fair and many other projects. She said the organization has donated over $15,000 this year to various projects benefiting Quay County and the surrounding areas.
Nials said Altrusa's community service and their member's participation in numerous service projects earned them the honor of receiving the distinguished international Mamie L. Bass Service Award.
The theme of this year's Cash Party was "Country Barbeque." Attendees wore their western attire to the event and enjoyed barbeque brisket with all of the trimmings. MCs Patsy Gresham, executive director of the Tucumcari/Quay County Chamber of Commerce, and Brad Bryant, Quay County commissioner and financial representative for Modern Woodmen of America, entertained the attendees as they called out the numbers.
After all the numbers were announced, attendees enjoyed music by DJ Chase Waters from H2Os D.J. Productions.
"Altrusa would like to thank all of our door prize donors. Other thanks go out to Quay County for the use of this building, to Jessica Elebario at the Convention Center for the use of the chairs, and to KTNM/KQAY Radio Station, the Quay County Sun, and the Tucumcari/Quay County Chamber of Commerce for helping Altrusa promote this event," Nials said "Of course a big thanks goes out to all of those that bought tickets. Without you, we wouldn't be able to accomplish all of our community projects."