Dateline: April 29, 2004

Betts wins Turkey King

Reneé “Broncho” Betts made history Saturday by becoming the first woman ever to be elected Turkey King as the culmination of the fourth annual Donley County Turkey Strut.

Betts left all other candidates behind by collecting in the neighborhood of $295, although election officials with the Chamber of Commerce have not yet revealed an official final tally. In fact, election judge Linda Gray reportedly fled the county this week to go on vacation.

Valorie Ashcraft was the first runner-up in the king’s contest, followed by Nancy Davis, Jewel Houston, Tessie Robinson, and Martha Smith.

The new king was bolstered in her election efforts by a reported $100 raised by her co-workers at Greenbelt Water Authority. She also broke new ground in poultry politics by breaking down the barriers between species and enlisting the help of a canine campaign finance chairman, a mutt named “Sandy” who raised at least $80 during the final hours of the vote.

Betts is the fourth person to sit on the turkey throne. She follows in the tracks of former king Tommy Hill, who was on hand to crown his successor as tradition dictates.

Her Highness was also the victor of the legendary mattress race in which teams run a one-block length of Kearney Street with a turkey on a mattress. Betts’ team showed skill, form, poise, and speed as they completed the journey in 23 seconds flat, beating Houston’s team by one second.

Smith’s team ran the race in 16 seconds but was disqualified because one member let go of the mattress two-thirds of the way into the sprint and did not cross the finish line.

More results from the fourth annual Turkey Strut will be released at some future date whenever officials can get it all together. Proceeds from the event go to promote tourism in Donley County.