FUND-RAISER: `HORSESHOES FOR HERB' TO BE AT KELSO SATURDAY

KELSO -- Horseshoe pitching rules and regulations will be tossed out the window during the "Horseshoes for Herb" tournament to be conducted at Redbones Tavern in Kelso next weekend.

The one-day, 15-peg event Saturday is designed to provide fun for its participants and to raise funds for the American Cancer Society.

"It's a fun day," said Marlene Morton, the founder of the tournament that is named in memory of Herb Steimle of Kelso, who operated Herb's Place for 38 years before selling it two years before his death.

"We wanted to do something in memory of Herb that would benefit the Cancer Society," said Morton, owner and operator of the tavern, now Redbones. "Several people who frequent the tavern started talking about some type of event and this is what emerged."

What emerged is something that has developed into an annual event that attracts people from a wide area.

"We've averaged raising about $1,000 each year from the one-day event," said Morton.

The horseshoe tournament is conducted over a 15-peg course, which resembles a mini-golf course with almost as many obstacles.

The course, which covers the back-yard area of the tavern, was "staked out" by A. J. Schott and Tom Ressell. The course includes a floating peg in a tub of water, a peg attached to a tree, and a blind peg on the back side of a sheet of plywood.

Participants toss wooden horseshoes carved out by Ressell.

"Horseshoe pitchers have no advantage over the novices on this course," said Morton. "The wooden shoes are much lighter than regulation shoes and are not as easy to control."

Only four of the pegs on the course have any resemblance to a regulation horseshoe pitching pit, and one of them has a slightly raised pit.

"Actually, the regular pegs offer more of a challenge to regular horseshoe pitchers," said Morton. "The pitchers are sometimes inclined to toss the wood shoes like they do the metal shoes, overthrowing the regular pegs."

One of the "different" pegs is one centered inside an innertube.

"This takes some concentration, and a lot of luck to ring it," said Morton. "More often than not, the horseshoe will strike the tube and bounce away."

Another peg that attracts attention is one mounted on a platform on the side of a tree. Other hazards along the course are pegs hidden behind a 4-by-8-foot sheet of plywood and a peg that has been attached to the chair bottom.

"A floating peg offers a real challenge," said Morton. "The peg floats in a tub of water."

The final event of the tournament is also challenging. It consists of a barrel of water placed on the side of the rear steps to the tavern.

"We're hoping for a big turnout this year," said Morton. "Each year, we attract more entries."

The cost of entries is $25 per two-person team.

"Although we like advance registration, people can enter during the tournament," said Morton. "We start the action at 9 a.m. and wind it down about 4:30 p.m.

People can enter by calling 314-264-2353. All participants will receive a "Horseshoes For Herb" T-shirt. Hotdogs and drinks will also be provided for participants.

Scoring is simple. If a person hits a target it is three points, if the person gets the horseshoe in the circle around the target it is two points, and the person gets one point if the horseshoe touches the circle.

Trophies will be awarded to first, second and third places.

Kohlfeld Distributing, Redbones Tavern and the Kelso community are co-sponsoring the tournament.