Murray County Expo Center was transformed into a Polynesian paradise last Friday night for the second annual Well-Bee Walk-N-Roll which raised $29,176 for new Arbuckle Hospital equipment.

Going into the event, the Murray County Healthcare Foundation lacked $94,000 towards the $2 million goal for new hospital equipment, according to Janie Brewer, Arbuckle Hospital Development Coordinator and Committee Chair for the Well-Bee event. A committee of 18 community leaders planned the event

Food, fruit freezes, face painting, and the popular dunk-a-doctor dunk tank were among booths lining three sides of the Expo Center. A flat bed trailer stage up front was used to both auction donated gift baskets and as a stage for the lip sync contest.

Dr. Elbert Franklin was one of the local doctors volunteering to sit in the dunk tank chair to help raise funds for the event. "It doesn't take much to hit it," he coached one teen boy who then missed. Next in line to try a shot was an elementary-aged girl. "Can a girl throw a ball?" Dr. Franklin asked just before she dunked him with her first ball.

State Representative Wes Hilliard again served as emcee for the event this year. "If you leave here hungry it's your own fault," he said during his welcome.

"We are blessed to have a wonderful new hospital but that building is just a building without the employees. What makes the hospital is the people that work there," Hilliard said.

Many hospital staff members as well as community leaders from across Murray County were present to help host the event which drew a standing room only crowd by the time the lip sync contest began.

"It was good to see the community come together to support us. We're proud to be here for them and its nice to know they are here for us," claimed Kay Aders, an Arbuckle Hospital Registered Nurse. "It was fun. I think the community response was wonderful," agreed Shelly Montgomery, another Arbuckle Hospital Registered Nurse.

"It's great the way the community comes together to raise money for the hospital and have fun too," said Tyger Freeman, also an Arbuckle Hospital Registered Nurse. "I especially enjoyed the dunk tank," she said but expressed regret that she had to leave before Arbuckle Clinic's Dr. Teresa Lynn sat in the dunk tank "for free" while the committee compiled the final amount raised during the evening.

Golden Bed Pan trophies were awarded by Representative Wes Hilliard to the Well-Bee Walk-N-Roll overall winners.

Community Bank of the Arbuckles won the award for the Lip Sync contest with their rendition of "Old Time Rock and Roll" which included working the crowd at the end of the production. The audience voted for their favorite act of the evening $1 a vote for a total of $1,800 raised by this event.

Second Place in the Lip Sync contest was awarded to Arbuckle Hospital's presentation of "Thriller," with Chickasaw Phone Company coming in third with "Hot Blooded."

Leadership Murray County Alumni contributed the gift baskets and were awarded the Golden Bed Pan trophy for raising the most money, a total of $1,890. Dustin Davis served as auctioneer for more than 15 gift baskets contributed from across Murray County and auctioned off at the event. Leadership Murray County Alumni also received the award for the Best Booth Decoration.

Arbuckle Memorial Hospital accepted the Golden Bed Pan trophy after the event committee voted them to have displayed the Best Team Spirit.

First National Bank of Davis won the award for the Small Team Most Money Raised with a total raised of $2,101. Prior to Friday evening Davis FNB hosted several events towards the effort including a Bake Sale, a Lunch, Coke Floats sales, ongoing Jeans Days, and a Baked Potato Lunch. They also sold sundaes during the Friday Well-Bee event.

Sulphur Rotary came in second place for the Small Team Most Money Raised with a total of $691, just ahead of the $584 total raised by Davis High School Key Club.

Community Bank of the Arbuckles received the Golden Bed Pan trophy for the Large Team Most Money Raised with a total raised of $8,823. They also had several fundraising events over the last year including a silent auction, cookbook sales, a 32-inch TV raffle, a taco salad lunch and Jeans Day. They were followed by Leadership Murray County Alumni raising $6,782.45, and Arbuckle Hospital in third place raising $4,825.

The evening ended about 9 p.m. with a balloon release. Balloons were sold for $5 each for individuals to honor a relative, a pet, a teacher or event.