By DELANIA TRIGG, City Editor
Gainesville Daily Register
Moss Lake —
Getting there really was half the fun.
Volunteers at Saturday Night’s Saints and Sinners of Moss Lake fundraiser used golf carts and ATVs to transport guests from a parking area to the site of the Red Nek Kick It Up and Fish Fry.
For some, the trip to the fish fry, auction and dance was a white knuckle ride from the highway to the home of hosts Kathy and Rick Bieghtol.
Saints and Sinners Board Member Lucy Haverkamp noted that the Bieghtols have “graciously hosted the event for the last two years.”
Organizers served all-you-can-eat catfish to several hundred Saints and Sinners supporters.
John Morrow of Cat Fish Sam’s in Arlington donated the food. Travis and Wayna Rossin were “official catfish cookers” for the event, Haverkamp said.
There was also music, live and silent auctions and a dance contest hosted by emcee John Broyles.
Haverkamp said the venue was the perfect place to hold the annual fundraiser.
“Sunset Rendevous is a wonderful place for dancing and the contests were wildly successful,” she said.
She said proceeds from the event exceeded last year’s total.
“This is just a preliminary amount, but we were right at $14,000 Monday morning,” she said.
The event also included a live auction.
“There were 12 wonderful items. A highlight of the auction was a travel package donated by Phyllis Dever who is the owner of Rovia Sojourner Leisure Travel. Phyllis donated the package in memory of her parents Joe and Adelle Garrett who called Moss Lake home,” Haverkamp said.
She added that merchants were generous with their donations for the auctions.
“We had a lot of really nice donations from area merchants and from merchants in Denton and Decatur,” she said.
The Kik it Up is designed to be fun for a good cause.
“Saints and Sinners of Moss Lake is an organization dedicated to the needs of its neighbors in northwest Cooke County as well as deserving college-bound students through the giving of scholarships,” Haverkamp said.
Two of this year’s scholarship recipients were at the event, she said.
“Kaylee Murphree and Delana Sicking both were there and were recognized. (Scholarship winner) Mariah Graham, was unable to attend,” she added.
In addition, Saints and Sinners assist the Moss Lake-Sivells Bend Volunteer Fire Departments and other community-based support programs.
The fish fry is over, but the organization still hopes to raise funds with a drawing for a vintage BMW.
Tickets for the car — which was on display at the event — are still available.
Haverkamp said there are a limited number of tickets for sale, and the organization plans to award the car, dubbed Bubba’s Moving Van, on Labor Day weekend.
Saints and Sinners is also still selling red neck t-shirts and posters designed by artist Sherri Cotton.
“She does an annual comic art poster for our event every year,” Haverkamp said.
In addition to event sponsors, she said members of the organization are also grateful for volunteers.
“We had some wonderful volunteers — over 20 people who braved the heat. We owe them much more than a thank you,” she said.
The Saints and Sinners of Moss Lake organization has raised more than $24,000 and drawn in over 700 guests at its previous two events.
