Harper Valley PTA was up to no good on Saturday night.

Danny Kemerling as Grandpa Jones.

Deb Martin Emceed as Minnie Pearl.

Devon Sons performs.

Those attending the Community Hospital-Fairfax Celebrity Waiter Dinner Saturday evening, March 24, 2018, had a grand ole time! This year’s show theme was Grand Ole Hospital with acts performing on a stage reminiscent of the Grand Ole Opry. Emceed by Debbie Martin as Miss Minnie Pearl, nearly 750 people attended the event, which is the hospital’s main fundraiser each year, enjoying hours of great food, laughter, and talented entertainment.
Darius Skillen got the show going with the Star Spangled Banner. Tarkio United Methodist Church Pastor Will Ratcliff gave “the blessin'” and Kris Umbarger “gave some sugar.” Clint Dougherty welcomed those “famous in a small town,” including this year’s celebrity waiters: Brooks and Amy Hurst as Jed Clampett and Ellie May from the Beverly Hillbillies; Tommy and Blu Dow as Jethro Bodine and Granny from the Beverly Hillbillies; Jill and Ryan Kingery as Daisy Duke and Uncle Jesse from Dukes of Hazzard; Chris and Chris Sticken as Oliver and Lisa Douglas from Green Acres; Chris Gebhards as John Wayne “The Duke”; Trey Graves and Ellie Dyer as Conway Twitty and Loretta Lynn; Scott and Kim Steins as Roy Rogers and Dale Evans; Heather Olson, Shana Haynes, and Bonnie Erickson as the Hee Haw Honeys; and Iva Tubbs, Ashlee Driskell, and Tami Lansdown as Billie Jo, Bettie Jo, and Bobbie Jo from Petticoat Junction. Danny Kemerling provided another laugh with “Grandpa, What’s for Supper” before Darius Skillen and Liven Schockenhoff played the piano while everyone enjoyed a delicious meal.
Following the meal, the entertainment began with Rhonda Herrick and Amanda Driskell singing “Leave the Pieces” by The Wreckers. Erica Taylor dazzled the crowd with Carrie Underwood’s “Softly and Tenderly.” Christina Hall showed off her pipes singing Jo Dee Messina’s “I’m Alright.” Julie Koop as Dolly Parton sang “Stand By Your Man” in a tribute to Tammy Wynette. The Fairfax High School Show Choir Main Street Showstoppers showed off their line dancing skills while performing “Forever Country” by various artists. Josie Watkins belted out “Before He Cheats” by Carrie Underwood. Clint Dougherty got the crowd joining in the fun with Garth Brooks’ “Friends in Low Places.” Devon and Mikaela Sons performed Brad Paisley and Alison Krauss’ duet of “Whiskey Lullaby.” Janene McEnaney donned the persona of Shania Twain to perform “Man, I Feel Like A Woman.” Shawn Minter sang Keith Urban’s “Good Thing.” Terri Jackson performed John Denver’s “Forest Lawn.” Rebekah Gebhards, Dan Lucas, Rebekah Lucas, and Clint Dougherty harmonized in “Mountain Music” by Alabama. Max and Ryan Hopkins played it up as Johnny Cash and June Carter Cash in “Jackson.” Andrew Braams performed “My Defenses are Down” from Annie Get Your Gun. Brett Wennihan and Ambera Pearson sang Randy Travis and Carrie Underwood’s “I Told You So.” Hee Haw quartet Barney Farley, Danny Kemerling, Josh Oswald, and Mike Hawkins performed “Just A Little Talk With Jesus.” Deb Wyatt, Deb Johnson, Malisa Linthicum, and Lynn Hunter had the crowd swaying in their seats with their performance of Jeannie C. Riley’s “Harper Valley PTA.” To end the night, Shawn Minter performed “Callin’ in the Dogs.”
During the event, attendees were able to sign up for a chance to win some “perty fine baskets” filled with goodies and certificates from local and area businesses and to purchase roses generously donated by KG Buds. This year’s event would not have been the huge success it was without the time and efforts also put in by the volunteers: Rehearsal Coordinator – Susan Slaughter; Shirt Ironing Party – Ginny Vernon, Marilyn Alldredge, Krys Carlock, Kay Graves, and Dannye Bradfield; Greeters – Jase Hughes and Dalton Brake; Hosts – Mike and Sandy Holley, Marion and Tonya Oswald, Toni Ray, Jason and Sarah Watkins, and Stacy Hughes; Raffle Sellers – Pat Fisher, Charlotte Miller, Bella Hurst, Hannah Miller, and Melissa Lang; Rose Sellers – Kay Graves, Cheryl Chastain, Trudy Martin, Jayne McFarland, Sandy Fisher, and Krys Carlock; Backstage Crew – Ben Lucas, Aaron Schlueter, and Braden Graves; Spotlights – Sue and Gene Carder and Gary and Kay Smith; Student Supervisors – Mike and Robin Lewis; Beverage Supervisors – Brian and Shannon Tharp; Kitchen Helpers – Becky Chastain, JoAn Whittington, Jackie Graves, Becky Jones, Joey Beals, Terry Walkup, Jaymee Koop, Tommie Miles, Terry Miller, Tab Wintz, Holly Swinehart, Suzanne Southard, and George Whittington; and Student Servers – Gabe Abbott, Sophie Brumbaugh, Catyn Chamberlain, Mason Chitwood, Ashley Christian, Jaden Clark, Anneliese Clausen, Zachary Clausen, Kilea Cooper, Ashley Cue, Beth Davis, Johnny Davis, Matthew Driskell, Wyatt Driskell, Makenna Farmer, McKenzie Frohn, Kelcie Gaines, Alexis Gibler, Bo Graves, Jaycee Graves, Jesse Graves, Summer Greenwalt, Harlee Hale, Collin Hedlund, Natlie Hedlund, RyAnne Herron, Jaelynn Hill, Carter Holecek, Deondre Hughes, Tori Jordan, Trenton Kingery, Sarah Liles, Conner Marshall, Claire Martin, Sophia Martin, Brianna Maxwell, Kierra McDonald, Kal McFarland, Maverick McFarland, Gabe Minter, Gena Mitchell, Kylie Nuckolls, Dillan Palmer, Tessa Rolf, Tanner Rollins, Oliver Smith, Taylor Stanton, Chris Sticken, Kendal Straub, Fischer Tharp, Gretchen Tharp, Rachel Vogler, Riley Vogler, and Shane Wallace; and CH-F Celebrity Waiter Dinner Committee and Staff – Susan Slaughter, Rhonda Herrick, Rebekah Gebhards, Sue Carder, Pat Fisher, Sandy Fisher, Krys Carlock, Sandy Holley, Jack and Ginny Vernon, Tonya Oswald, Jim and Leisa Paris, Julie Koop, Amanda Driskell, JoAn Whittington, Becky Chastain, Matt, Aaron, Lizzie, Josh, and Ann Schlueter, Becky Jones, Brian and Shannon Tharp, Shawn and Jodee Minter, Mike and Robin Lewis, Jake Johnson, Ellie Dyer, Chris Sticken, Ashlee Driskell, Tim and Sandy Umbarger, Robin Salfrank, and Treyvor and Kris Umbarger.