High South charity event raises more than $6,500 for Chester music education

The inaugural High South golf scramble event at the Chester Country Club exceeded expectations May 18, raising $6,622 to support music education in the Chester schools.

The money, raised from scramble sponsors, several auctions, a 50/50 drawing and many generous cash donations, will be turned over to the Chester Music Patrons, the supporting organization of the Chester schools' music departments.

Sponsors for the day were Pechacek Funeral Homes, St. Nicholas Brewing Company-Landmark, Silkworm, Southern Illinois Eyecare, Buena Vista National Bank, the band High South, Chester Family Dental, (Drs. Patrick D. Miller and Philip A. Miller), Worth Clark Realty (Michael W. Frazer), Country Financial (Betty McCoy), Colvis Investment Svcs (Dan Colvis), Koeneman Law Offices (Paul Koeneman, Chris Koeneman), employees of Gilster Mary Lee Corp., Southern Illinois Chiropractic Clinic (Dr. Jodi Buskohl), Tequila's Mexican Restaurant, Rowold Hardware (Greg & David Rowold), Fisher, Kerkhover, Coffey & Gremmels Law Offices, The Studio Boutique (Lynette Mitchell), Reids' Harvest House, Joe's Pizza & Pasta, Chester; Rozier's Country Market and Charles and Tabitha Colvis.

The silent auction was held from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., while the scramble was taking place. Three items, however, were set aside for an oral auction, which was held during the break of the High South show at the country club on Saturday evening.

Event co-chairman Tom Tindall served as auctioneer for the oral auction. Items included a laser cut metal High South sign, painted professionally by regional artist Jason Sprengel and donated by Tom and Marla Yankey, Karla and Brett Klindworth, Ron and Cindy Wagner and Ty and Nikki Malley. The item sold for $305 to the winner, Dr. Patrick Miller.

A handcrafted custom guitar, made and donated by High South and used as a putter for the golf scramble, sold for $500 to Jason Coffey.

The final auction item of the night was a St. Louis Cardinals' game jersey, autographed by catcher Yadier Molina, and donated by Tom Search and Rip Rowan, which sold to Brett Klindworth for $760.

Tindall, along with musician Jamey Garner of High South, expressed their appreciation to all involved with the daylong event.

"This is what can happen in a community when everyone works together for a great cause," Tindall said.

Garner added, "High South is all about peace, love and harmony and that's what happened here in Chester this weekend! Let's always support the arts in any way we can."

High South, based in Nashville, Tennessee is an international recording group comprised of Chester native Jamey Garner, plus Phoenix Mendoza and Kevin Campos. They performed to sold-out crowds at the Chester Country Club on Friday and Saturday nights, surrounding the fundraising event.