COAL GROVE – Contestant registration for the third-annual Chili Fest is underway.

Sunday, February 10, 2002

COAL GROVE – Contestant registration for the third-annual Chili Fest is underway.

The chili fest is sponsored by the Lawrence County Board of MR/DD as a part of the organization’s Mental Retardation Awareness month. The event is designed to increase awareness of mental retardation and developmental disabilities.

Local organizations and businesses are encouraged to participate in the event which will be held at the Open Door School on March 23 from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. The school is located at 421 Lorain St. in Ironton.

Last year, nearly 400 people attended this special event, which is one of the highlights of Mental Retardation Awareness Month. Organizers are looking for chili entries in the following categories: Business & Organization; Media; and Consumers, Families & Staff of MR/DD.

A panel of independent judges will select winners in the three categories. First-place awards will be given in these categories, plus attendees will cast ballots for the "People’s Choice" award.

Last year’s winners include: Chesapeake Volunteer Fire Dept. in the Business/Organization category; The Ironton Tribune in the Media Category; and Glenda Bogar, instructor at Open Door School in the Consumers, Families, & Staff of MR/DD category. The 2001 People’s Choice winner was Kay Rader, a Habilitation Specialist II at Tri-State Industries, Inc.

The MR/DD Board serves 451 children and adults with mental retardation and developmental disabilities in Lawrence County. Services include early intervention for infants and toddlers, ages birth to three, preschool services, ages 3-5, the Open Door School for students with multiple handicaps ages 6-21, and Tri-State Industries, Inc., a non-profit corporation which provides employment, job training and other services for adults with MR/DD.

For more information about the third-annual Chili Fest or the Lawrence County Board of MR/DD, contact the MR/DD Board office at 740-532-7401 or 1-800-231-MRDD.