It’s about time to satisfy that sweet tooth once again.
The seventh-annual Central Kansas Court Appointed Special Advocates chocolate auction is set for Saturday, Feb. 4, at the Highland Convention Center. Silent auction/cocktail hour will begin at 6:30 p.m. and the live auction begins at 8. Auctioneers will be Mike Niedens and TR Esfeld.
Tickets are $35 and can be purchased at the door.
In all, the event will feature about 50 live and 100 silent auction items. “We really enjoy bringing the community together so we can demonstrate what happens when we bring vendors and donors together with volunteers to help serve a great need in our community,” said Aidan Loveland Koster, CKCASA executive director.
Notable auction items include a trip to San Diego, a Google TV, many catered events and parties, and diamond earrings. There will also be a four-foot tall chocolate fountains with food for dipping, heavy hors d’oeuvres, and a cash bar with chocolate martinis.
“The success of our auction allows us to spend most of our year serving kids and helping volunteers, and not worrying about fundraising,” Koster said. 
The agency serves the 20th judicial district which includes Barton, Ellsworth, Rice, Russell and Stafford counties. It is also funded by the United Way of Central Kansas, the Kansas CASA Association, the Kansas Office of Judicial Administration, the Golden Belt Community Foundation.
Committee members include Koster, Angela Schepmann, Donna Staab, Linda Marmie, Doris Spray, Virginia Fullbright, Marcia Westhoff, Kim Kummer and Jerry Esfeld.
Sponsors this year are Jeff and Lorraine Staab, Washington Roofing - Chuck Carpenter, Innovative Livestock Services - Andrew and Megan Murphy, Great Bend Regional Hospital, Jerry and Linda Marmie, Nex-Tech/Rural Telephone, P&S Electric and Roustabout, Jim and Kathi Armatys, Dennis and Dianne Call, Francis Financial Services, St. Rose Ambulatory and Surgical Center and Venture Corporation.
For more information, contact Koster at 1125 Williams in Great Bend, visit casa@cpcis.net, or call 620-792-5544.