Fantasy Tree Celebration is a Succesful Fundraiser

Fantasy Tree Members:
Darla Klotz, Jillane Hixson, Toni McPherson. Standing: Sherry Walls, Lisa Thomas, Lori Morlan, Santa, Lanette Rosetta, Holly Burton, Valerie Baldwin and Melonee Marcum. Not Pictured: Diane Pool

The annual Fantasy Tree Festival in Lamar is one way southeast Colorado residents judge the approach of Christmas.  The 11^th Annual Festival, held this past Saturday, November 22 at the Lamar Elks Lodge, helped put attendees in a holiday frame of mind.  The annual event raises funds for the Domestic Safety Resource Center which serves four counties in southeast Colorado: Prowers, Baca, Kiowa and Cheyenne.

Santa was on hand to spread holiday greetings and some of the most uniquely decorated Christmas Trees and Wreaths were put up for auction, using the talents of Rob Morlan.  He kept up a lively pace while stirring up the crowd to bid on items such as a half a beef, a new set of tires, two 32” televisions, chain saw and a hedge trimmer donated by local retailers.

Entertainment was provided by Lea Austin’s dancers from All the Right Moves prior to the auction and afterwards, the Jeffrey Alan Band provided music for dancing as well.  Folks sampled free hors d’oeuvres while viewing the trees and wreaths or visiting with friends or adding their names to the list of items available from a silent auction that lined the main hall of the Elks Lodge.  There isn’t an official tally of the proceeds from the live and silent auctions, but an announcement and a check presentation to DSRC will be announced in the future.

By Russ Baldwin