Generalissimo Melissa Small announces Stacie Clarkson and Mary Swearingen as the 8th Annual Chili Cook-Off committee chairs.

Stacie Clarkson has been involved in several Neewollah committees over the last few years. She has helped with the Chili Cook-off for 8 years and has also helped with the Pop Party, Queens Tea, Queens Scrapbook and Little Princess committees.  Stacie is a speech-language pathologist and program coordinator for Southeast Kansas Education Service Center-Greenbush. She lives just outside of Independence with her husband, Dean and their daughters, Katie (15), Kyndall (9), and Karlie (6).

Mary Swearingen has served on various Neewollah committees including the Chili Cook-Off, Musical, Talent, Queens Tea, Pop Party and Fashion show. She is a Kindergarten teacher for USD 446 and lives with her husband, Kurt in rural Independence. Mary has three children Cole (10), Kara (9), and Ella (5).

The Chili Cook-Off is to be held Saturday, October 22nd at the Riverside Park Oval with public tasting beginning at 11:00 a.m. Sampling kits can be purchased for $3.00 and include a water bottle. Kits also include a peoples choice vote ticket so you can vote on your favorite pot of chili! The Chili Cook-Off will also feature a dessert competition, this years dessert them is "andy Concoctions?so each dessert must contain candy. Local area dentists, dental hygienists and assistants will be the judges for the chili and dessert competitions. This years chili and dessert competitions will also feature a "enerals Choice?award, and a surprise award will be given for both the dessert and chili categories! While we are on the subject of dentists, there will also be a candy eating competition for the kids! Other fun activities include: free face painting, clowns and inflatable?, air brush tattoos which will be available for a fee, raffles where Neewollah merchandise can be won, and performances by the ICC cheerleaders and the IHS dance team! Also, be sure to stick around for the first medallion clue!

The Great Pumpkin Contest will also be featured at the Chili Cook-Off. This is a BYOP (bring your own pumpkin) event! Decorating will take place at the shelter house from 10:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m., IHS Art Works students will be on hand with lots of paint, glitter, glue and other crafty things to assist your child with the decorating. Awards will be announced at 12:45 p.m. Age groups are: preschool and kindergarten, 1st and 2nd grade, 3rd through 5th grade, middle school homerooms and high school advisory classes. Prizes for the elementary divisions will be: 1st place ?an arm band for the carnival, 2nd place ? a gift certificate to spend at a downtown food vendor of choice and 3rd place ? a treat filled basket. There will be one winner from the middle school division and one winner from the high school division. The winning middle school homeroom and the winning high school advisory class will receive a traveling trophy and a classroom cookie party. Each age group will also have various certificates for scariest, funniest, most creative, etc.

*Please note: there is still time to enter your favorite chili or "candy concoction? dessert recipe! Entry forms can be found at www.neewollah.com and are due by Tuesday, October 18, 2011.