BENEFIT TO HELP MAN WHO HAS HELPED OTHERS

LEOPOLD -- Ron Naney of rural Leopold used to pack his van with sound system equipment almost every weekend on his way to play at a benefit dance for fire victims, children with muscular dystrophy or people needing money for transplants.

But he can't anymore; several months ago someone broke into Naney's van and stole almost $30,000 worth of equipment, including irreplaceable old records.

"I'd help out anybody and everybody I could at no charge at all," Naney said. "Now I can't do that and I can't replace what they took."

Naney may not be able to replace everything, but the Leopold community and the Knights of Columbus want to help with what they can. They have scheduled a benefit catfish and chicken dinner and dance for Saturday at the KC Hall.

"He helps everybody else out, now it's time that we do something for him," said his sister-in-law, Kathy Naney. "It's a shame this had to happen to him."

On the night of Feb. 5, Naney played for a benefit dance at the KC Hall in Leopold. It was snowing, so Naney left his van parked under a light near the highway and got a safer ride home.

"I have played there for 21 years and I've never had a problem," Naney said. "If there was one place I thought my stuff was safe, it was in Leopold."

Naney said he would be happy just to get his personal collection of old records back. "You couldn't beg, borrow or steal for those records. They made me different from everybody else. If I got those back and nothing else, that would tickle me to death."

The dinner will be held from 4 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. and the dance will start at 8 p.m. Saturday at the KC Hall on Highway N in Leopold. Admission is $5 for adults, $2.50 for children from 6 to 12, and free for children under 6. There will be a raffle for a hand-made quilt and other items.

For more information call the Knights of Columbus Hall in Leopold at 238-4262.