South Callaway runners, Mokane Lions host haunted fundraiser

(Standing, from left) South Callaway cross country runners Abigail Luebbert, Tristan Peneston, Taylor Howard and Andi Rodriguez and (seated) Mokane Lions Club President Bryan Rogers all have been working on the Mokane Haunted Hall. The haunted house, to be held Oct. 27, 28 and 31 at the Mokane Lions Club, will serve as a fundraiser for both groups.
(Standing, from left) South Callaway cross country runners Abigail Luebbert, Tristan Peneston, Taylor Howard and Andi Rodriguez and (seated) Mokane Lions Club President Bryan Rogers all have been working on the Mokane Haunted Hall. The haunted house, to be held Oct. 27, 28 and 31 at the Mokane Lions Club, will serve as a fundraiser for both groups.

The South Callaway cross country team and the Mokane Lion's Club are hoping to scare up a little cash this Halloween.

The two groups are hosting a joint fundraiser: The Mokane Haunted Hall. On Oct. 27, 28 and 31, the cross country team and the Lions are inviting area residents to the Mokane Lions Club to enjoy a night of scary Halloween fun while supporting the cross country team's efforts to go to Boulder Running Camp in Colorado this summer and local efforts of the Lions Club.

It has been a decade since the Mokane Lions hosted a haunted house, but president Bryan Rogers said when the organization heard about the cross country team's need for a fundraiser it seemed like the perfect time to resurrect it.

"One thing the Lions Club is supposed to do is support the youth, so we decided to help out the cross country kids," said Rogers, whose niece, Taylor Howard is on the team. "They got involved in it, and we get to be involved with them, so it's good for both sides."

Rogers said he is excited to be scaring people again.

"We had fun with it 10 years ago - it's always been fun," he said. "You get started and you have a plan in mind, and then you just keep getting ideas and you add a little more, and a little more and it just keeps escalating."

To help the tornado-stricken people of Dumas and surroundings, donations can be made to the Delta Area Disaster Relief Fund, care of the Delta Area Community Foundation, P.O. Box 894, Dumas, AR, 71639, or through the Arkansas Community Foundation, 700 S. Rock St., Little Rock, AR, 72202.