Well, good news and bad news. First the good news. We would like to thank all the fantastic support given to us for the Straczuk medical benefit in Vidalia recently.

First, thanks to our son Mikey and his wife Sandy, who spearheaded the event and worked so diligently to obtain the amount of sponsors, too many to mention. Our utmost thanks to all! Thank you to Mayor Hyram Copeland and the City of Vidalia for allowing the use of the pavilion on the waterfront. Music was supplied by Nate and his karaoke equipment, allowing Bob Cupit, and daughter Pam, Gray Montgomery, Sandy Straczuk and other great singers to perform beautifully. I would have offered my singing abilities, but I didn’t want to embarrass anyone — ahem! Radio station KFNV personalities did a great job advertising for the benefit. Thanks to The Natchez Democrat for their part in advertising the event.

Secondly, we did experience a problem. There was a poker run for motorcyclists. Eighteen local, good folks showed up. Initially, there were over 500 who had committed themselves to participate. Our daughter-in-law, Sandy, found out that someone had posted on the Internet that there would be a $25 entrance fee for the poker run. That killed it. The entrance fee was $10 for one rider and $5 for a riding partner. These folks were coming from all over the Miss-Lou. Our thanks to whoever posted that on the Internet because it demolished all the work put into organizing the event!

Our cooks, Gary and Dave Mills, suffered over the pit and heat of the day to conjure up some great chicken, hot dogs and hamburgers. Fun was had by all even though the heat was stifling.

My wife Betty and I sincerely want to thank all the sponsors and individuals who participated in the benefit!

Mike Straczuk

Vidalia residen