Marksmen turnout for turkey shoot

Gladeville Men's Club and the Gladeville Community Center kicked off their annual Turkey Shoot Saturday. The annual event gives marksman an opportunity to compete for prizes while sharpening their shooting skills.
"This is probably about the tenth year we've done it," Gladeville Men's Club member Earl Ray said.
The turkey shoot has a longer history in Gladeville that dates back to its original sponsor, the Gladeville Lions Club.
"Years ago the Lions Club started it," community center volunteer Mabel Beazley said. "But there's no Lions Club in Gladeville now, so we took over."
There are 12 separate shots or rounds that an individual can participate in, and each has its own individual prize for the best shot. The shoot at the community center has four different prizes and these are rotated with each round.
"We give away turkey, ham, bacon and money shots," Beazley said.
Up to 12 people can shoot in each round and many times there are more people who want to shoot than there are chairs available.
"Sometimes they're lined up two deep waiting to shoot," Ray said.
As a fundraiser for the community center, the shoot has been successful. Ray said the program is the second largest fundraiser for the center each year.
"Its a good fundraiser," Beazley added.
The event remains popular among the locals as many area residents are repeat visitors each year.
"They love it," Ray said. "Most of them come back every year."
Since the shoots are becoming more popular, there have been attempts to add an additional shoot, but so far it has been unsuccessful.
"Right now we just do one a year," Beazley said. we're trying to work in two but we have too many other activities."
The shoots are held on Saturday and Sunday at the Gladeville Community Center each weekend through Dec. 3. There will not be a shoot on the weekend of Thanksgiving.
Staff Writer Kimberly Jordan can be reached at 444-3952 ext. 16 or by e-mail at kimberly.jordan@lebanondemocrat.com.