PANORA, Iowa, February 21, 2008 – The Raccoon River Valley Trail Association is hosting members and other trail enthusiasts for a banquet on Saturday, February 23, 2008, in the banquet room of The Port Restaurant just north of this town on the trail.

Association president Carla Offenburger, of Cooper, said the event “should be a fun winter evening where RRVT Association members and other trail users can share in the excitement of all the latest developments for the trail. We just had our very own ‘Super Tuesday’ this month – when the trail received over $1 million in funding for a wide range of projects, including helping develop the new ‘North Loop.’ It’s time to celebrate together.”

A social hour is set for 6 p.m., with dinner being served at 6:45 p.m. and there will be both a silent auction and live auction.  Guests will also see a new professionally-created video about the RRVT, and get a full update on activities planned for 2008 and beyond. 

The $25 per-person tickets have all been sold.

Auction items will include an overnight at the Butler House on Grand B&B in Des Moines (located on the Des Moinese metro trail system, which should be connected to the RRVT by summer); a 5-speed “PT Cruiser” bicycle (perfect for trail riding); two 3-to-4-foot-tall balled and burlaped white pine trees ready to plant; wildlife prints; bicycle-shaped table lamp; overnight stay at The Little House on Russell in Jefferson; RRVT logo apparel; autographed books by Iowa outdoors writer Larry Stone; a specially-drawn RRVT cartoon by Des Moines Register cartoonist Brian Duffy; an assortment of teas; locally-produced elk jerky; an overnight at the Prairie View B&B west of Panora; a personally guided tour for two or four of the newly renovated Dallas County Courthouse in Adel with Dallas County Supervisor Mark Hanson as your guide.

Other auction items include a one-wheeled bicycle trailer; two pottery vases; two dinner & dance tickets to the Cooper Prom; computer pannier for a bike; rear bike rack; bike tires; $100 in “Panora Chamber Bucks; a 30-minute massage; a chiropractic exam; a canoe adventure on the Middle Raccoon River; a Lake Panorama package including overnight at the Lakeside Inn, Port restaurant gift certificate and a pontoon ride on the lake; sponsorship for one of the new directional/mileage signs on the RRVT; golf outing and cart for four on the Panorama National Golf Course; a fully-cooked ham for 25 people from P.J.’s Restaurant in Panora; a “bag chair” with the RRVT logo; several meals at restaurants along the trail, and other gift certificates. 

Questions can be directed to Offenburger at 515-386-5488.

Article Published: 01-17-2008