The Wood River Community YMCA welcomed about 3,200 patrons to a benefit concert at River Run Lodge Friday, Aug. 3, featuring country Western superstar Dwight Yoakam.
Yoakam's rare appearance (this is one of only two shows he'll perform this year) is due to his friendship with Michael Owens, of Sun Valley. Owens is the son of the late legendary country musician Buck Owens, who was close to Yoakam.
"It was a great show," said the Y's Associate Director Jason Fry. "Several people said it was the best Dwight performance they'd ever seen. It was a lot of fun, and a beautiful night. Dwight had fun and was so gracious in mentioning the Y and saying it was a great cause. He's a really a down-to-earth guy."
The concert was only one aspect of the weekend for the YMCA, which is in the process of building a multi-phased recreational facility in Ketchum. There was also a gala dinner and auction and the annual YMCA Classic Golf Tournament.
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"The big news is the announcement of $2.5 million matching challenge from a donor and the entire board of the Y," Fry said. "That's exactly what we need to finish the building. If we raise that from the community, that's where the challenge comes in for the ice and event center. We could conceivably begin building late this summer."
The take for the weekend was significant.
"It's a big nugget," Fry said. "We raised over a million over the weekend from all the events—Dwight, auction, dinner, golf and gifts that came in—which goes toward the $2.5 million challenge."
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The results of the 2007 Wood River Community YMCA Golf Classic tournament staged Monday, Aug. 6, at Sun Valley Golf Course:
1st place: Jamie Everitt, John Walecka, Chris Stephens, Curtis Gardner and Steve Shafran.
2nd place: David Hennessy, Kevin Carey, Whit Atkinson, Kevin Uberuaga and Phil Hebert.
3rd place: Mike Owens, Dave Hausmann, Lou Hansel, Dominick Conti and Don Shirey.
Closest to the Pin: Hole #3: Page Roos; Hole #5: Bud Yorkin (1 foot away!); Hole #15: John Kelly; and Hole #17: Peter Palmedo.
Men's Long Drive (Hole #8): Dominick Conti.
Women's Long Drive (Hole #8): Britt Palmedo.
Dwight Yoakam strums up some noise Friday at a benefit concert for the YMCA. Photo by Willy Cook
