Stagecoach Days raises $15,000 for community pool

Maricopa’s Rotary Club staged its 48th Annual Stagecoach Days Saturday. The day started off with a ‘bang,’ a shotgun start golf tournament, and ended Saturday evening with an old-fashioned barn dance complete with the “Cotton-eyed Joe.”

Orbitel Communication’s Keith Kirkman held nothing back — even on the practice tee.

Don Pearce (left) and Oliver Anderson, longtime Rotarians and tournament volunteers, were hoping to give away a new car for a hole-in-one at the par 3 5th hole.

The Duke at Rancho El Dorado course was the site for Maricopa Rotary Club’s third annual golf tournament. Prizes were awarded to the three lowest grossing teams:

1st Place – Leslie Gardner/Long Realty

Mike Boylan
Mike Cannon
Donny Gardner
Mike Trafelet.

2nd Place – D.L. Withers

Dave Felton
Brian Cooke
Brian Koskella
Larry Mitchell

3rd Place – Trilogy at Avalea-Shea Homes

Gary Brawley
Gary Meyers
Fred Whistle

“It was a great success,” according to Brent Murphree, president-elect of the Maricopa Rotary Club.

Tournament co-chair Misty McWherter said the tournament raised over $12,000. “I would like to thank all of our golfers, tee sponsors and tournament sponsors,” she added.

Tournament sponsors included:

Bashas’ Maricopa Fiesta Shopping Center
El Dorado Holdings
Gilleland Brubaker Architects, Ltd.
Hacienda Builders
Harrah’s
Homelife Communities
Jones Auto Centers
Long Realty Alliance
The Mark Spinks Team (Long Realty)
Native New Yorker
Orbitel Communications

Among the 116 participants were (left to right) Patrick Nagy (TAZ Painting), Taylor Werner (The UPS Store) and Michael Colbern (Chase).

Taylor Werner winds up at the 11th tee.

Players were treated to Jenny Dutton’s great service and smile while on the course.

Saturday evening, after the golf tournament was over, festivities moved inside to Sonny Dunn’s barn where the annual Barn Dance has been held for almost 20 years. More than 150 guests, including Mayor Kelly Anderson and Pinal County Sheriff Chris Vasquez, were treated to live music from the Almost Country band. Plenty of room was available for folks to “kick up their heels” on the dance floor. For those who were hungry, Rotarians sold ‘lip-smacking good’ barbeque sandwiches that had many going back for seconds.

Almost Country played hits like the “Cotton-eyed Joe” and “Margaritaville.”

Sheriff Chris Vasquez and wife, Patricia, take a break from the dancing.

The Maricopa Rotary Club also sold raffle tickets at the dance for prizes that included a digital camera and printer, which was won by Lisa Akers. Edward Farrell took home a DVD player, and Troy Anderson is now the proud owner of a 32-inch television set.

Jack and Linda Podojil sold raffle tickets.

Dancers two-stepping the evening away at Sonny Dunn’s barn.

All the proceeds from the golf tournament and the Barn Dance, estimated to be over $15,000, will benefit the maintenance of Maricopa Rotary Club’s swimming pool and recreational activities held at the pool during the summer.

The 2006 Stagecoach Days went off without a hitch, and Rotary has its sights set on future events. According to Murphree, “Upcoming Stagecoach Days will preserve the heritage as well as tap into the community where there are amazing resources and people with great talents and abilities.”