Breakfast for dinner huge success

MOUNT VERNON — The Knox County Board of Developmental Disabilities held its annual Celebrity Omelet and Pancake Dinner with more than 20 local celebrities flipping omelets and pancakes to benefit Special Olympics and Citizens for Individuals with Developmental Disabilities of Knox County.

Local notables took 30- minute shifts at the griddle to serve up orders of pancakes and omelets from those in attendance. The event was held in the New Hope Early Education Center from 5 to 7 p.m. and was on a donation basis for admittance.

The response was overwhelming. When the gym was opened for serving there were between 80 and 100 people waiting to be served.

One of those was Knox County Prosecuting Attorney John Thatcher who was waiting near the end of one of the longer lines.

“It’s my first time here,” he said. “I’m looking forward to it. And I see some celebrities who I think should serve me.”

Dotti Riggs was another first timer who was looking forward to the meal.

“I work for Head Start and we are having a policy council meeting tonight,” she said. “And this is our meal for the meeting and I am really looking forward to it.”

The Knox County Commissioners were out in force, acting as celebrity chefs for the night. Teresa Bemiller is a veteran of the event.

“This is about my third or fourth year,” she said. “I used to be on the board. I have done it before but that doesn’t mean I’m an expert. And it’s a very good cause. This goes to People First in Ohio and it helps them with their activities and promoting people with disabilities, so I think it goes to a very good cause.”

“It’s probably my fourth or fifth year,” said Bob Wise. “It’s my eighth year as a commissioner and I know they’ve asked us a lot of years. But it’s a good cause and there’s sure a good crowd here. Just look at this crowd.”

The turnout for the event was especially gratifying for those connected to KCDD.

“It is bigger than last year already,” said Steve Oster, Knox County DD board superintendent. “We have more people here and a lot more community members coming in. Actually, for our celebrity chefs we had to turn away people this year. So many people wanted to cook this year and we really had to limit the number.”

Bo Rambo, program director for Concepts in Community Living, explained what the event meant for the board.

“It’s a fundraiser and community awareness event for the development disabilities program with proceeds going to the levy campaign and People First of Ohio.

“This is an excellent crowd. They’re doing very well at the beginning. I walked in about 10 to five and it was already very crowded. And I’m seeing a lot of people I don’t normally get to see.”

The evening had the help of several businesses in the community as well as the celebrity chefs. Sponsors of the evening were, A Mystical Moment in Time, Creative Foundations, Fredericktown Market, Henry’s on the Square, Knox Community Hospital, Kroger, Lanning’s, McDonald’s, Neff’s Supermarket, Wal-Mart and Wayne Grange 262.

Celebrity chefs for the evening were: Teresa Bemiller, Capt. Dick Brenneman, Jonette Curry, Ernie Fisher, Nancy Gregg, Brian Hess, Mike Hillier, Jenny Highman, Keith Hughes, Mark Kohlman, Matthew Kurtz, Jesse Marlow, Dr. John Marshhausen, Kim Marshall, Chip McConville, Jayme McMillan, Dodie Melvin, Brenda Nixon, Steve Oster, Jim Peterson, Lou Petros, Diane Ramey, Joe Rinehart, Margaret Ann Ruhl, Kelly Schermerhorn, Jana Shira, Steve Short, Cheryl Splain, Allen Stockberger, Adam Taylor, Bruce White and Bob Wise.