Chili Cook Off competition heats up
By Catherine Reisenauer
The competition is heating up among the nine cooks for the upcoming ICI-O 25th Anniversary Chili Cook Off. Wednesday, April 15 is the date for the event and the excitement is threatening to spill over into real competition. The public is invited to share in the fun: $5 at the door of the VFW Hall on Michigan Avenue in Orofino, from 4:30 p.m. until 7 p.m.
The cost is $5 and that buys a bowl of chili, a chunk of corn bread and a slice of anniversary cake. Soft drinks will also be available, and people 12 and under eat free. The doors open at 4:30 p.m. and the judging will take place at from 4:45 to 5:30 p.m. The judging panel will include non-ICI-O people from the area including Orofino Mayor Ryan Smathers, Jo Moore and Sandy Clay. The event is scheduled to end at 7 p.m.
The ICI-O Morale Task Force is putting on the event, with ICI-O Administrative Assistant Sandi Nantt, Orofino, coaching the cooks and Correctional Officer Thomas Houdeshell of Orofino managing the judging staff. Correctional Officer Terrie Lovely of Orofino is the corn bread guru and Projects Officer Brad Garasky of Kooskia will manage drinks and cake. ICI-O Psycho Social Rehabilitation Coordinator Jennie Ruppell, Lenore, is in charge of ticket sales.
The Cook Off proceeds will benefit the ICI-O Awards Fund, which sponsors recognition for ICI-O employees and officers who exhibit outstanding efforts in several areas.
The Idaho Correctional Institution Orofino (ICI-O) has been an important part of both the Orofino and the Idaho security landscapes for 25 years, and the Chili Cook Off is the final event in the celebration of this signal accomplishment. Many strong and talented people have dedicated their careers to keeping the citizens of the community, the inmates of the facility and each other safe, so it was a surprise when the originally calm and friendly chili cook off anticipation broke ranks this week.
Lieutenant Amy Anderson of Kamiah posted a facility-wide notice indicating that she has teamed up with her dad and will be “schooling the competition.” This statement apparently prompted Correctional Officer Brian Barrett, Orofino, who had previously been a spectator to the progress of the event, to enter the competition and do a little schooling of his own.
Laura Ashford of Lewiston, ICI-O Legal Assistant, says that her deceptively “plain chili” is a contender because of a secret ingredient her son taught her to use. Aaron Krieger of Kamiah, ICI-O Program Manager, mysteriously says he and his Therapeutic Community staff are “going for the BIG W,” perhaps with a chili of a different color.
Some element of this competition has prompted these normally polite, all-business security professionals to strut and brag and threaten each other to take first prize. Deputy Warden Todd Martin of Lewiston, also a contender cook, summed it all up Tuesday when he said, “Let the FLAMES begin!”