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The Barton Community College "Almost Actors" improv duo, David Burdett and Chelsea Gotschall, were winners of Habitat for Humanity’s "Barton County’s Got Talent," Saturday at Grace Community Church. Ashley Dowgwillo and J.D. Smith were the runners-up in the competition with their musical skit.
Rachel E. Mawhirter with the Barton County chapter of Habitat for Humanity said more than 450 people attended the third annual fundraiser. Proceeds will help the nonprofit organization provide decent, affordable housing in the area.
"We had more talent audition this year than ever before," Mawhirter said. "We ended up with 22 acts in the show, with 19 of those competing for the title." The work of more than 60 people went into this production, including the dinner theater cooks, the servers, the talent show cast, the tech crew and other volunteers.
"We set a goal to net $15,000 going into this fundraiser, which would be 50 percent more than last year," Mawhirter said. "It was so great to be able to announce to the crowd that they’d helped us exceed that goal by over $1,000!" Sponsorships raised about $7,000 of that. The Deepest Pocket Challenge brought in $4,700, with $1,100 of that amount was from the challenge winner, Shirley Flick. The silent auction brought in just under $1,000, and the rest was from ticket sales.
During the program, the sponsors introduced Daryl and Amber Wilkerson, the next partner family with Habitat for Humanity. They have four children and will help build the sixth Habitat for Humanity house, at 19th and Hubbard. They will be able to buy the house at a low cost by contributing their "sweat equity" and receiving a no-interest loan from the organization. Once the partner family starts making payments on their new home, the Habitat for Humanity board can use those funds to help another family.
Construction on the house will resume Feb. 4.
For more information on Habitat for Humanity, send e-mail habitatbartoncounty@hotmail.com or call 620-786-4896.
