We've Got The County Covered
We've Got The County Covered
The Fouts family, from Turner, had the most family members in the 2017 Poker Run for American Cancer's Relay for Life. Picture left to right are Duane and Jaclyn Fouts, from Scottsdale, Arizona, Chet and Ruth Ann Fouts, from Turner, Dan Fouts (pointing at license plate) from Albuquerque, New Mexico and Taylor Fouts, also from Turner. Duane and Dan grew up in Turner and were back helping brother Chet with harvest.
Proceeds from a "Ride-Fly-Drive Poker Run" generated 'just shy of $1,600' for the North Central Montana Relay for Life. Forty participants on motorcycles and in vehicles made the run that started and ended in Chinook with stops at Fort Belknap, Zortman and Malta. The ACS Relay for Life is the signature fund raising event by volunteers in 5200 communities and 20 countries around the world. John and Angie Hebbelman organized the local poker run and deemed it a "great success with a good turnout and a significant amount of money raised to fight cancer."
The main group of riders and drivers left the Chinook Motor Inn about 9:30 am on Saturday. The first stop was the casino at Fort Belknap to draw the first card in the poker hand. A number of motorcyclists and cars from Harlem and the Big Flat area joined the group there. At Zortman the group stopped again to draw another card and enjoy lunch at the Miner's Club, a local restaurant. Then on to Malta, with a stop, and back to Chinook for dinner in the evening.
Mary Pyette, herself a cancer survivor and the driving force behind the local cancer support group, was a special rider during the run. John Hebbelman invited Mary to ride with him and, always the experience junkie, Mary agreed. She was decked out in a leather riding jacket and helmet. She said, "The helmet pinched my head a little but at least it didn't let the wind mess up my hair." Mary says, "I really enjoyed the ride and appreciate the support for the Relay for Life."
The Fouts family, from Turner, had the largest number of people from one family in the run. Chet and Ruth Ann Fouts were accompanied by their son, Taylor, two of Chet's brothers, who now live in the southwest and one sister-in-law. Duane and Dan, who grew up in Turner, had come back to help brother Chet with harvest. Dan said, "He was working us about 20 hours a day and we needed a break. This poker run was just what we needed." Dan lives in Albuquerque and had his own motorcycle with him. Duane and Jaclyn, from Scottsdale, Arizona, drove one of Chet's classic cars.
The Hebbelman's organized a similar poker run four years ago. They said the turnout was better for this one and they hoped to have another run in the future. Angie Hebbelman said, "We'll probably skip a year and have the next one in 2018." Kermit Johnson, from Harlem, rode the 'pace motorcycle' to lead the group. He added, "If we skip a year the interest seems to continue better. I don't want the riders to get burned out on the event." Hebbelman told that some riders had suggested a run to Canada, through Turner, with a stop at Cypress Hills, a park in Canada.
Gordon Haugen, driving a pickup and pulling a trailer, was the designated 'rescue guy.' If a motorcycle had a problem, he would haul the vehicle to help. Fortunately there were no breakdowns or mishaps. It was a beautiful day for a run. As one rider described the event, "It was a great time for a great cause."
