Tuesday, August 13, 2013 Page 5The Chronicle-News Trinidad, Colorado AREA NEWSLip syncing will fillShuler with fun . . .By Tim KellerCorrespondent The Chronicle-News

RATON When theannual Lip Sync Contesthits the Shuler Theaterstage Friday and Saturdaynights, it will be the 36thconsecutive year thatRatons Eileen Gonzales hasproduced the benefit show.Twenty-five contestants individuals and groups signed up to participate inthis years popular show.

Its a night of laughterand family entertainment,Gonzales says. She keepsadmission prices low $5for adults, $4 for seniorsand $3 for children 12 andunder so everyone canafford the show.

Proceeds provideinsulin, blood-sugar moni-tors and other medical sup-plies to diabetics through-out the area, stretchingfrom Raton to Clayton toCimarron to Trinidad.Gonzales started the pro-gram when her mother haddiabetes. She lost her moth-er to the disease, but theshow has lived on.

I go around and collectdoor prizes and donations

from sponsors. Theyre fan-tastic. They give and give,Gonzales says. Door prizesrange from expensive quiltsand Afghans to auto partsto restaurant dinners.

Coming from Raton,Clayton, and as far away asAlbuquerque, contestantspull out all the stops, per-forming in costume, por-traying such stars asMarilyn Monroe, ElvisPresley, Miranda Lambert,Carmen Miranda, HueyLewis and Kenny Rogers.The complete show runs fortwo full nights, Friday andSaturday, with judges scor-ing every performance.After Saturday nightsshow, judges tally the scoresfrom both nights to deter-mine the winners, who willbe announced on stage afterthe show.

First prize is $200, sec-ond prize $150, third prize$100, fourth prize $75, fifthprize $50, and honorablemention receives $25. Lastyear, KRTN radio personali-ty Billy D Donati won thecontest with his perform-ance of Michael BublsFeeling Good. Helldefend his crown this week-end but says he will not

reveal which song hell belip syncing.

Gonzales keeps the covercharge low for a reason. Iwant everyone to see theShuler Theater! Shes like a

beautiful woman: She agesbeautifully. A lot of peoplehere on the east side thinkyou have to be rich to go tothe Shuler. You dont.Everyone can afford to

come to this show. Relativescome to see relatives andneighbors come to seeneighbors. Once peoplecome once, they keep com-ing back year after year.

Show time is 7:00 p.m.both Friday and Saturdaynights at the ShulerTheater. For further infor-mation, call EileenGonzales at (575) 779-3483.

Photo by Franky Mahannah

Billy Donati channeled his inner Michael Bubl singing Feeling Good on the Shuler Theater stage at last

years Lip Sync Contest. Good enough to win the cherished first prize, hell be back to compete against 24

challengers Friday and Saturday night.

Get your motor runnin Raton revs in the mud this Saturday

Photo courtesy of Jolynn Powers

Spectators should expect a muddy mess at Saturday afternoons Raton Mud Bogs races. Held at Jim YoungArena on the Raton Rodeo Grounds on Highway 555, the event will include five classes of vehicles competingin double timed runs, with participants coming from hundreds of miles in all directions to compete.

By Tim KellerCorrespondent The Chronicle-News

RATON Raton Mud Bogs returns tothe Raton Rodeo Grounds Saturday for asecond year of sloshy high-speed racing tobenefit the scholarship funds of the RatonRodeo Association. Jim Young Arena opensto competitors at 8:00 a.m. Saturday morn-

ing, with timed competitions beginning atnoon and running all afternoon. A driversmeeting is scheduled for 11:00 a.m.Admission to the grandstands is $10; chil-dren age six and under are admitted free.

The Raton races are affiliated with oth-ers in Taos, Wagon Mound, Clayton,Espaola, and other New Mexico cities, aswell as Lamar, Colorado and other cities inthe state. Drivers bring their vehicles from

all over to compete, and series information,rules, photos, videos, posters, schedulesand results are available atbatcaveracing.com.

Five divisions based on vehicle typeinclude Stock, Super Stock, Modified,Outlaw and Super Modified. Each vehiclemakes two timed runs through a wet,muddy course. Times are combined to pro-duce a score, with the fastest drivers win-

ning cash awards.Additional information is available from

Doug Williams, (575) 707-0210, and SteveRoss, (575) 447-3709. From Trinidad, reachthe races by taking I-25 south to the lastRaton exit, 450. Turn west immediately onHighway 555, York Canyon Road. TheRodeo Grounds are about a mile west.