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Mayor's ball will benefit skate park

Havre-area residents will have a chance to attend a social event and help build a local skateboard park at the same time.

Havre's first mayor's ball will be held Saturday at the Eagles Club. All proceeds will go to the construction of a skateboard park adjacent to Havre's Patterson Park.

The evening will begin with a social hour at 6 p.m. where attendees can enjoy socializing -and free beer for the first hour- before being treated to a prime rib dinner beginning at 6:30.

At 7:30, the band Montana Ponies will begin playing and will continue throughout the evening.

Emcee for the night will be Jacob Lorang, and Terry Schend will be the guest speaker.

An auction will be held with items like an American flag signed by U.S. Sen. Conrad Burns, R-Mont., and Denny Rehberg, R-Mont. Mayor Bob Rice said he still hopes to auction an item autographed by the Green Bay Packers, but he hasn't received one yet.

Many local proponents of Havre's skateboard park have pitched in with the hope of making the mayor's ball a profitable event.

Rice said Monday that virtually all of the ticket price will benefit the proposed park, thanks to the donations of local individuals and businesses.

"All of the money from the ticket sales will go toward the park," Rice said of the $25-per- couple fee.

Rice said all the food has been donated. The Eagles are donating the preparation of the dinner and have paid for the band.

Guests can look forward to hors d'oeuvres by Pizza Pro and desserts by the Quench N Bench, Rice said.

Members of the skateboard association are helping out with the event and will be serving as wait staff at the ball, Rice said.

Rice said he is still seeking donations for the auction and would be appreciative of additional donated desserts.

Local individuals who have donated to the skateboard park will be recognized at the gala during a "parade of checks," said Rice.

Tickets are available at Marguerite's, the Quench N Bench and City Hall.

Rice said he plans to collect community pledges at the ball totalling more than $4,000. Adding that to what has already been raised by the skateboard association and the city of Havre, Rice said an additional $63,000 will be required for completion of the park.

The cost of the park, including lighting, a fence and all the ramps and concrete, has been estimated at close to $80,000, Rice said.

Rice said he has applied for two grants that would boost the total amount available to about $60,000 leaving $20,000 left to be raised.

 

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