Results of Axtell SmokeEaters BBQ Contest

The results are in of the Fourth Annual Axtell SmokeEaters BBQ contest, held on Aug. 8-9 in Axtell, Neb.

OVERALL:
1. Parrothead Smokers
2. All American BBQ
3. Ponderosa BBQ
4. Farm Boy BBQ
5. Blake Frazee BBQ

CHICKEN:
1. Blake Frazee BBQ
2. Parrothead Smokers
3. Farm Boy BBQ
4. Barnyard Bernie
5. Rubbin' It and Lovin' It

RIBS
1. Parrothead Smokers
2. All American BBQ
3. Farm Boy BBQ
4. Mel's BBQ
5. Little Guys

PORK
1. Parrothead Smokers
2. The Odd Couple
3. Mel's BBQ
4. Ponderosa BBQ
5. SpringCreek Smokehouse

BRISKET
1. Parrothead Smokers
2. Blake Frazee BBQ
3. Ponderosa BBQ
4. All American BBQ
5. Farm Boy BBQ

BEANS
1. Haymakers
2. Dead Animal Stink
3. Blake Frazee BBQ
4. Mel's BBQ
5. Moonswiners

A total of 18 teams competed in the contest.

Thanks to event organizer Roy Buessing for sharing these results.

New SmokeShack BBQ Will Open

Kenny and Tammy Meyer, of Smokin' Tailgators fame, are opening "SmokeShack BBQ" at 2615 Chandler Road in Bellevue. Hours of operation will be Tuesdays through Thursdays, 10:30 a.m. to 7 p.m.; Fridays and Saturdays, 10:30 a.m. to 9 p.m. They will be closed on Sundays and Mondays.

The menu will feature ribs, brisket, chicken, and pork, along with specials of featherbones and turkey drumsticks. Kenny says they will also feature different sandwiches -- "not strictly barbeque" -- plus chicken wings, chicken livers, and chicken gizzards. All items may not be available initially, but the menu will be expanded as they go.

They will feature fresh sides - potato salad, macaroni salad, cole slaw, baked beans, and garlic buttered potatoes -- in addition to french fries and onion rings.

There is seating for 15-16 people in the restaurant, plus take-out and catering will be available. They will accept cash, Mastercard, and Visa for payment.

The grand opening is scheduled for Friday, Aug. 29. The phone number is 598-0703.

Last Call for Axtell BBQ Contest

We're just a week away from the Fourth Annual Axtell SmokeEaters BBQ Contest in Axtell, Kansas, on Aug. 8-9. The event, sponsored by the Axtell Volunteer Fire Department, is a KCBS Sanctioned State Championship Event.

Categories include ribs, chicken, pork, beef brisket, and beans. The entry form is available online. The early registration deadline has passed -- but you can still register for just $175 per team!

For more information, call Roy Buessing at 785-736-2766 (home) or 785-799-4514 (cell).

Last Day for Early Registration for Little Blue BBQ

Aug. 1 is the last day to qualify for early registration rates for the Fourth Annual Little Blue BBQ contest in Fairbury, Nebraska. The contest will be held Sept. 5-6, 2008 at the Fairbury City Park. This is a KCBS sanctioned event with $1,750 in total prize money. Download an entry form and send it in today!

For more information, call Chad Lottman at 402-793-5820. The entry fee is $125 until Aug. 1 ($150 after Aug. 1).

Famous Dave's Opens at 120 & L

The newest Famous Dave's restaurant is now open at 120h and L Street! Regular readers of the Drippings newspaper have noticed the "coming soon" banner on the Famous Dave's ad for the past couple of issues -- but the wait is now over!

"We're excited to bring the Famous Dave's concept to Millard," said Greg Cutchall, President and CEO of Cutchall Management Company. "There is a lot of new development in the area, and we feel like Famous Dave's will be a great fit. We're also thrilled to have a location that is so easily accessed from the interstate."

Cutchall Management Company currently owns six Famous Dave's restaurants in Omaha, and one in Wichita.

Eagle Days BBQ Contest

The Eagle Days Barbeque Contest will be held on July 11-12.

The contest will be held as part of a whole weekend full of entertainment, according to barbeque contest organizer Jim Peterson.

Friday night is "Family Night," featuring kids games and food on Main Street in Eagle. Saturday morning, the fire department will host a pancake breakfast fundraiser beginning at 7 a.m. More games for the kids will continue on Main Street on Saturday morning.

Judging for the BBQ contest begins at 11 a.m..

There will be a parade at 1:30 p.m., and when that concludes, the winners of the barbeque contest will be announced.

Competition teams will also have the opportunity to compete in a People's Choice barbeque contest (turkey, chicken, pork). Individuals can purchase a People's Choice ballot for $5/ticket.

Saturday evening, Oasis, a bluegrass band, will be the first to perform, with live music for a street dance/beer garden until 12:30 a.m. on Sunday. Peterson said they also expect to have a local group catering and cooking food around the same time.

The event will also feature motorcycle shows, car shows, St. Elizabeth Health Fair, a Department of Safety ATV rollover demonstration/prevention seminar, and "Donkey Polo" throughout the weekend.

For information about entering the BBQ contest, e-mail jimp@ellipse.net.

Fourth Annual Axtell SmokeEaters BBQ Contest

Mark your calendar for Aug. 8-9 for the Fourth Annual Axtell SmokeEaters BBQ Contest in Axtell, Kansas. The event, sponsored by the Axtell Volunteer Fire Department, is a KCBS Sanctioned State Championship Event.

Categories include ribs, chicken, pork, beef brisket, and beans. The entry form is available online -- fees are $150 if you register by July 15, or $175 after July 15.

For more information, call Roy Buessing at 785-736-2766 (home) or 785-799-4514 (cell).

Little Blue BBQ Contest Set for Sept. 5-6

The Fourth Annual Little Blue BBQ contest in Fairbury, Nebraska, is set for Sept. 5-6, 2008. The event will be held in the Fairbury City Park and is a KCBS sanctioned event with $1,750 in total prize money. Download an entry form and send it in today!

For more information, call Chad Lottman at 402-793-5820.

The entry fee is $125 until Aug. 1 ($150 after Aug. 1).

Deadline to RSVP for Judging Class is Thursday

Want to learn how to judge great BBQ? Want to learn more about creating great BBQ? Then enroll in the Kansas City Barbeque Society Certified Barbeque Judging Class that will take place Saturday, May 31st.

You must have completed a KCBS-certified judging class to judge KCBS-sanctioned events.

For more information call 402.554.9600 x 104. The deadline to register is Thursday, May 14. The class is being held at the Blackstone Building, 302 S. 36 Street, Suite 800, and is being sponsored by River City Roundup.

BBQ Thought of the Day

Today's BBQ Thought of the Day is courtesy of Absolutely Fresh Seafood Market:
If a pig loses its voice, is it disgruntled?

Ak-Sar-Ben's River City Roundup Barbeque Challenge

More than $4,400 in prizes, special gifts, and awards will be given out at the Second Annual Ak-Sar-Ben's River City Roundup Barbeque Challenge on Friday, Sept. 26 and Saturday, Sept. 27 at the Qwest Center Omaha.

This KCBS-Sanctioned contest will feature participation in chicken, pork ribs, pork butt/shoulder, and beef brisket categories. The early entry fee is $175 (before Aug. 11); it's $200 after Aug. 12. There will also be a sauce competition ($10 entry fee); sausage competition ($10 entry fee); and people's choice contest (free-meat will be provided). Download an entry form.

Questions? Call Tom or Char Manhart (Contest Trail Boss and Co-Chairman) at 402-709-0152 or e-mail tommanhart@intlminutepress.com. Visit the River City Roundup website for more contest information.

Fourth Annual Axtell SmokeEaters BBQ Contest

The KCBS-sanctioned Fourth Annual Axtell SmokeEaters BBQ Contest will be held on Aug. 8-9, 2008 in Axtell, Kansas. Sponsored by the Axtell Volunteer Fire Department, the Grand Champion will take home $500.

All four KCBS categories will be judged. For more information, visit the contest's website or call Roy Buessing at 785-736-2766 (home) or 785-799-4514 (cell).

First BBQ Contest of the Season

Jon and I made it out to Cedar Creek's Fourth Annual Smoke-Out last night.

Despite the cold and light rain, there was a party going on in Cedar Creek's park, with a live band, 25 competition barbeque teams, and plenty of mud! The number of teams in attendance bodes well for this BBQ season, and I went around and handed out copies of the Drippings newspaper. GOBS Past President Sonny Ashford had obviously been there earlier in the day, as several people had received copies already.

I enjoyed seeing some familiar faces -- Leonard and Julie Hawkins of Baby Back BBQ, the Smokin' South Omaha Boys (Dave Earnest), Rogue Q Smokers of the Serengeti (John Schneider), and The Smokin' Heads (Ryan Headley) -- as well as meeting some teams I hadn't heard of yet ... Rollin' in the Rub (Greg Ryan), Blue Yummy Smokers (Rick Dolphens -- who tells me the name references a liking of Bud Light), Curbie's Brew & BBQ (Rick Curbie, a Shriner clown), and The Mandelbaugh's (Mike Spence, formerly of the Smokin' Elvises. The team name references the Seinfeld character Izzy Mandelbaum, although online it's spelled differently.)

We'll post the results on the GOBS Blog as soon as we receive them from the Cedar Creek folks. I also worked on recruiting a couple of more teams to participate in the O! BBQ! contest next Saturday at Canfield's Plaza at 84th and Center in Omaha. Remember -- the deadline is Tuesday, May 6 to register!

I'll post pictures from last night as soon as I find out if any of them came out!

GOBS in the News!

The O! BBQ event made the Omaha World-Herald's Dining Notes column today. Although the World-Herald's style guide insists on spelling barbeque as "barbecue," we are delighted by the coverage!

They wrote:
Speaking of barbecue
If backyard barbecue is more your speed, Canfield Plaza and the Greater Omaha Barbeque Society will host a "BBQ How To" class from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. May 10.

Local barbecue society members will lead seminars throughout the day on preparing your grill and how to cook foods on grills and in smokers.

The free event takes place in the west parking lot of Canfield Plaza, at 84th Street and West Center Road. It will include a minicompetition for up to 10 grillers. If you want to compete, register at www.canfields.com by Tuesday.

There was also a mention of the upcoming KCBS-sponsored Judges Training program on May 31 in Omaha. Here's the information from the Dining notes article:
The Kansas City Barbecue Society [sic] is offering a barbecue [sic] judging class in Omaha from 10:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. May 31, in conjunction with River City Roundup.

All participants will become certified according to the society's rules, which means they get first crack at judging most society-sanctioned events.

Tom and Charlynn Manhart host the class, along with certified judge Merl Whitebook.

The $70 cost includes a one-year barbecue [sic] society membership. For more information or to register, contact Charlynn at (402) 709-0153 or charlynn.manhart@imswired.com.

O! BBQ: Be a Better BBQer!

Have you thought about competing in a BBQ contest but just don't feel you're ready yet?

Come on out to Canfield's Plaza at 84th and West Center Road on Saturday, May 10 for a special event: O! BBQ: How to Be a Better BBQer! The event is sponsored by the Greater Omaha Barbeque Society and Canfield Plaza.

Compete in our FREE BBQ How-To Mini Competition (limited to the first 10 teams) and win Canfield's gift certificates. Register to enter by Tuesday, May 6 by calling Bridget Brooks at 402-393-4600 or visit Canfield's website to download an entry form (click on the highlighted yellow text on the left hand side of the web page).

Contestants will provide their own smoking equipment, fuel, meat, and ingredients. Electricity is supplied, if required. Celebrity judges will evaluate your ribs, chicken, and brisket.

Upcoming Barbeque Contests

We are sending out a postcard to the competition teams we have on file (so watch your mailbox for the bright yellow GOBS postcard!) but here is a list of the upcoming BBQ contests in this area (as of 4/30/08):

May 2-3
Cedar Creek Fire Department Fourth Annual Smoke-Out
Cedar Creek, Nebraska
Contact Tiffany Peacock at 402-234-2901

May 9-10
BBQ in the Bluffs
Bayliss Park - Council Bluffs, Iowa
Contact Claudia Rodenburg at 712-328-4634

May 9-10
North Platte Honky Tonk BBQ Festival
North Platte, Nebraska
Contact Rob Mandeville at 308-532-3344

May 10
O! BBQ: How to Be a Better BBQer Mini Competition
Canfield Plaza, 84th & Center - Omaha, Nebraska
Contact Bridget Brooks at 402-393-4600
(Celebrity judges! Limited to 10 teams. No entry fee.)

May 16-17
Dundee Days BBQ Contest
50th & Underwood - Omaha, Nebraska
Contact Jeff Royal - 402-598-0873

June 6-7
Springfield Days BBQ Contest
Sarpy County Fairgrounds - Springfield, Nebraska
Contact Kelly Wills - 402-320-1708

June 13-14
Papillion Days BBQ Contest
Zupan Soccer Field Parking Lot - Papillion, Nebraska
Contact Louise Greco - 402-597-2043

June 19-20
Extreme BBQ'n Bull 2008
Lancaster Event Center - Lincoln, Nebraska
Contact Rick Hinman - 402-441-6545

June 27-28
Cortland Fest 125 Roasting Pig Competition
Cortland, Nebraska
Contact Rich Douglass - 402-499-6143

July 11-12
Eagle Days BBQ Contest
Eagle, NE
Contact Jim Peterson at 402-781-9669

July 18-19
Riverfest 2008: Red, White, & Que
Hayworth Park - Bellevue Nebraska
Contact Megan Lucas at 402-898-3000

Aug. 8-9
Fourth Annual Axtell SmokeEaters BBQ Contest
Axtell, Kansas
Contact Roy Buessing at 785-736-2766

Aug. 22-23
17th Annual State Barbeque Championship of Nebraska
LaPlatte, NE (Five miles south of Offutt Air Force Base in Bellevue, NE; off Hwy. 75)
Contact Sonny Ashford at 402-651-0149

Sept. 5-6
Little Blue BBQ
In conjunction with Fairbury Days - Fairbury, Nebraska
Contact Chad Lottman at 402-793-5820

Sept. 26-27
Ak-Sar-Ben's River City Roundup Barbeque Challenge
In conjunction with River City Roundup - Omaha, Nebraska
Contact Meghan Spence at 402-554-9600 x 104

We hope to see you at one or more of these events!
Compete. Judge. Enjoy.

Extreme BBQ'n Bull 2008 Update

The website is up for the Extreme BBQ'n Bull 2008 event, so if you are a competition cooking team looking for an event in Nebraska, this could be your thing! The event is June 19-21 at the Lancaster Event Center, 4100 North 84 Street in Lincoln and is sponsored by Fort Western and Anderson Ford.

Event organizer Rick Hinman says they've already signed up 20 teams (including a team from Indiana and one coming from Bainbridge, Georgia) and have room for up to 40 total teams. The basic entry fee is $150 (electrical service and booth upgrades are available for an extra fee).

"In year two, we hope to move up to 100 competitors," Hinman says. "We want to increase the prize money and are working hard to make (this first year) successful."

The BBQ contest is being held in conjunction with the Extreme Bullriding Tour. Hinman says they have justed signed Gary Leffew, the 1970 PRCA World Champion Bullrider, to host a bullriding school on June 18 and sign autographs on June 20 at the event.

Hinman is looking for judges for the event (KCBS certified judges preferred). Contact him at rhinman@lancastereventcenter.com if you are interested in judging.

You can find out more details by reading our earlier blog post about this contest.

BBQ In the Bluffs Set for May 9-10

BBQ in the Bluffs, a KCBS-sanctioned event, will be held on May 9-10, 2008 at Bayliss Park in downtown Council Bluffs, Iowa. The event will feature over $4600 in cash and prizes.

The event is the second annual "Celebrate CB State Championship," as proclaimed by the governor of Iowa. The entry fee is $200. Grand champion will take home $1500, and the reserve champion will win $750. Cash prizes will be awarded for fist through fifth place in the Chicken, Pork, Ribs, and Brisket categories.

As announced in today's Omaha World-Herald, Bayliss Park also has free wireless internet service!

Download an entry form or contact Claudia Rodenburg at 712-328-4634 for more information.

If you are interested in judging, download a judging entry form or contact Tiffany Schmitt at 712-325-5774 or e-mail tiffany.schmitt@nonpareilonline.com. Judges must be KCBS certified.

Former Austin's Will Be Newest Famous Dave's

The former Austin's Steakhouse restaurant at 12020 Anne Street (120th & L) will become Omaha's newest Famous Dave's, according to Cutchall Management Company, which operates the restaurant.

Cutchall currently manages five Famous Dave's restaurants in Omaha. CMC's restaurants also include Sonic Drive-Ins, Paradise Cafe & Bakery, BurgerStar, Progressive Park, and Tin Star (in Dallas).

Famous Dave's was named one of the top barbeque restaurants in the city in the "Best of Omaha" awards in 2008.

Cedar Creek Barbeque Contest - May 2-3

The Cedar Creek Fire Department is hosting its Fourth Annual Smoke Out on May 2-3, 2008 at the Cedar Creek Park in Cedar Creek, Nebraska. Categories include Ribs, Chicken, Pork, and Brisket. The grand champion will win $400 and the reserve champion will take home $150. First through fifth place will also receive prize money; sixth through tenth place will receive ribbons.

This is a non-sanctioned barbeque contest, judged by the Greater Omaha Barbeque Society. KCBS rules apply. The entry fee is $100 per team (plus an additional $25for electricity).

The Cedar Creek Fire Department is a non-profit organization and all proceeds will benefit the CCVFD for their equipment purchase fund.

Download an information form here. Registrations are still being accepted, but the cutoff is coming soon! Want more information? Call Tiffany Peacock at (402) 234-2901.

Want to join in the fun? The CCVFD Beer Garden runs from 5 p.m. to Midnight. The band "Scot Free" will perform from 8 p.m. until midnight.

Saturday morning, there is a pancake feed in the park pavilion. Judging begins at noon, and the awards event begins at 3 p.m. The CCVFD is encouraging teams to hand out samples to the public on Saturday after the cook-off.

Catering

It's not too soon to start planning those graduation parties! May will be here before you know it.

Check out the following catering options:

Harkert's BBQ - 402-554-0102. Ribs (half-slabs and full slabs), chicken, brisket, feather bones, sliced pork, smoked turkey. Sides: baked beans, potato salad, cole slaw, macaroni salad, corn-on-the-cob, French Fries, spicy Q's, salad. Desserts too. Open seven days a week. Mastercard and Visa accepted. 4865 Center Street, www.harkerts.com.

Famous Dave's - Choose Famous Dave's for your next event! Offering appetizers, sandwiches, entrees, sides, desserts, and beverages. We are your last-minute catering specialists! Go to www.cateromaha.com or call 558-3333 for a customized quote.

Uncle Earnie's Beer, Bait & BBQ - Let Nebraska's State BBQ Champions cater your next party or event! Starting at $8.50 per person for 1 meat, 2 sides, and bread. Hog roasts available. Visit www.uncleearnies.com or call 402-234-2311.

Doc and Eddie's BBQ Will Cater April Meeting

The April GOBS meeting will be held at Digz and will be catered by Doc & Eddie's BBQ.

The meeting is Tuesday, April 9. The meal will be $15 per person and will include smoked sausage appetizers followed by St. Louis-style ribs, pulled pork, and smoked turkey. Sides include BBQ beans and potato salad.

Come socialize at 6 p.m.

Dinner will follow after a short 7 p.m. meeting.

This will be the first dinner meeting we've had catered by Doc & Eddies.

For reservations, call 333-GOBS. The meeting is open to members and non-members.

"Best of Omaha" Barbeque

Omaha Magazine (in conjunction with Action 3 News and the City Weekly), has named its "Best of Omaha" for 2008.

Tops in the "Bar-B-Que" category are:

Famous Dave's Legendary Pit Bar-B-Que
McKenna's Blues, Booze & BBQ
and Smoke Pit BBQ & Lounge

World-Herald Reviews Hartland BBQ

Omaha World-Herald reviewer Nichole Aksamit has made up a new sound to describe her love of Hartland BBQ: "Ghrrmmmm."

Her review of the restaurant appeared in the Friday, Feb. 29 Living section. She favors the hickory-smoked pork and the brisket.

Hartland Barbeque is located at 5402 Northwest Radial Highway. It is open from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m., Monday through Saturday. Phone 397-5765.

Extreme BBQ'n Bull 2008

The inaugural Extreme BBQ'n Bull 2008 contest is June 19-21, 2008 at the Lancaster Event Center (4100 N. 84th Street) in Lincoln. The event offers more than $15,000 in prize money (sponsors include Fort Western and Anderson Ford) and this is a KCBS-sponsored event.

According to event spokesman Rick Hinman, contestants are already lining up to compete. Categories include Beef Brisket, Pork Ribs, Chicken, and Pork Shoulder/Boston Butt. A maximum of 40 teams will be accepted.

The public will be invited to sample BBQ using special coupons which will be sold for $1.00 each. Sample sizes are determined by the team. The event sponsors encourage participation as a way for teams to earn back their entry fees. (Teams will be paid 80 cents per coupon turned in by 7 p.m. on Saturday, June 21.) Coupons must be used for all sampling -- teams found in violation of this policy will be disqualified.

The People's Choice category will be awarded based on samples sold (using a coupon count). The cook-off will be judged by KCBS officials on Saturday, June 21 at Noon.

The Extreme Bullriding Tour will also be a part of this event.

Entry fees begin at $150 per team. For an entry form, or more information, call Rick Hinman at (402) 441-6545 or e-mail rhinman@lancastereventcenter.com.

Editor's Note: The facility's website does not yet have information about the contest up -- I will link to the form when it is available.

Brewburger's Offers Smoked Brisket Sandwich

Brewburger's, located at 4629 South 108th Street (corner of 108th and L, in the former Nebraska Beef location), offers an "Old Fashioned Sandwich" that was the favorite sandwich of proprietor Yves Menard in his younger days.



The sandwich is a brisket that is brine cured for six days and then smoked for 3-4 hours. The meat is served on Jewish-style rye bread with mustard, accompanied by fries or Basil Pasta Salad ($7.95). Add $1 for Swiss or Havarti cheese.

General Manager Paul Goodman says they also occasionally offer smoked salmon as a special.

Come into Brewburger's for Happy Hour Monday through Friday from 3-6 p.m. and enjoy 25% off your entire bill. Tell 'em GOBS sent ya!

Dickey's Barbecue Pit Opens in Omaha

Southern staple Dickey's Barbecue Pit opened its first Nebraska location in Omaha at 14440 F Street, Suite 113 on Jan. 16.

The franchise location is owned by Arlene and Gary Arnold. This is the Arnold's first business, Arlene notes, and they've been working on it for almost a year, including completing Dickey's intensive 2- to 3-week training program in Texas.

Arlene says their brisket, pulled pork, and ribs have been most popular so far with the locals.

Nearly all of Dickey's offerings are prepared fresh daily, including the hot and cold side dishes. Arlene noted they have a couple of exclusive supplier offerings, including their pork ribs.

The original Dickie's opened in Dallas in 1941, and now the company has locations in 25 states, including Nebraska, Iowa, and planned locations in Olathe and Topeka, Kansas.

In addition to hosting pre-opening get-to-know-you events, the Dickey's corporate office will be placing newspaper ads and doing direct mail promotions to encourage barbeque lovers to try Dickey's.

Also, kids eat free on Sundays (1 child per paying adult, 12 and under, from kid's menu).

The restaurant does not have a liquor license, although future plans for a neighbor for the family-oriented restaurant may include a bar, Arlene added.

You can reach Dickey's Barbecue Pit at 402-575-5636. They offer dine-in service and catering, plus take-out (including "Meat by the Pound"). Dickey's accepts Visa, Mastercard, American Express, and Discover. Hours are 11 a.m. to 9 p.m., 7 days a week (but Arlene says to call ahead if it's nearing 8 p.m. on weeknights, as their winter hours are sometimes curtailed.)

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Thanks to UNO Athletic Director David Miller for the heads-up on the opening of Dickey's. If you have barbeque-related news or are interested in advertising in the GOBS newspaper, Drippings, please call Bridget at (402) 393-4600.

GOBS Board of Directors Elections

It's Election Time. No, not the presidential primaries and caucuses -- GOBS Board of Directors elections!

The candidates will be allowed a few moments at the Banquet and Awards Dinner on Saturday, Jan. 26 to introduce themselves and make a pitch for why you should vote for them. Ballots may be cast beginning on Jan. 26 (you must be an active GOBS member to vote). Voting will conclude on Tuesday, Feb. 12 (the night of our February dinner).

Candidates include:
Sonny Ashford
Lynn Kampschneider
Bill MacKenzie
Butch Clark

Continuing on the board (not up for election/re-election this time around) are: Monty Hoyle (treasurer), Kevin Podany, Charlie Pape, Jimmy Carter, and Nena Cooney.

Dinner Details: GOBS 2008 Banquet

Love (of BBQ?) will be in the air on Saturday, Jan. 26 with a Valentine's Day-themed 2008 GOBS Banquet & Awards Dinner.

The dinner will be at the Shoreline Golf Course Clubhouse, located at 210 Locust Street in Carter Lake.

The social hour begins at 6 p.m., with dinner and awards at 7 p.m. The cost is $20 per person. A cash bar will be available. The caterer is Ozark Smoked Meats, and appetizers, Cornish game hen, smoked brisket, mashed potatoes, green bean casserole, rolls, and dessert are on the menu.

RSVP by Thursday, Jan. 24 to 333-GOBS or via e-mail to gobsreservations@cox.net. Be sure to include your name, number of guests attending, and a phone number where you can be reached.

No More Billy Mac's Downtown

In December, we reported that Billy Mac's was catering lunchtime service at the Atomic Dog in the old First National Bank Building on Wednesdays. As of Jan. 15, Atomic Dog has closed in that location, and Billy Mac's is no longer available at that location.

GOBS February 2008 Dinner Meeting

GOBS will hold its February Dinner Meeting on Tuesday, Feb. 12 at 7 p.m. at McKenna's Blues, Booze & BBQ at 7425 Pacific Street.

The meal will be $15 per person and will include an appetizer, three meats, three sides, and dessert.

This will be the first dinner meeting at McKenna's since October 2005 -- and the first since their re-opening.

For reservations, call 333-GOBS. The meeting is open to members and non-members.