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Donation to jumpstart charity car show

By Codell Rodriguez, The Southern

Wednesday, August 20, 2008 9:13 AM CDT

HERRIN - A donation of $1,000 will be the first event for the American Heart Association Car Show on Sept. 20 in Creal Springs.

The donation from Blankenship Automotive will take place at 3 p.m. Wednesday at Murray's Body Shop at 1400 N. Park Ave. in Herrin. Thomas Whittle, manager at Murray's, said the donation has been a staple of the event for three of the four years of the show's existence.

The actual show will take place Saturday, Sept. 20, in Creal Springs City Park. It includes music, cars and games for children.

Don Fisher, former owner of Marion Ford, started the event four years ago and Whittle has taken over organization of the show since then.

"I'm passionate about everything I do," Whittle said. "This car show is a way to give back to the community."

Registration for the show begins at 8 a.m., judging begins at 11 a.m. and trophies are given out at 3 p.m. Whittle said that everyone who takes part will leave with a plaque. There will also be music from the Big Elvis DJ show and silent auctions. Whittle said past auctions have included dentist and chiropractic services.

"There's no telling what you'll get down there," Whittle said.

Whittle said one of the biggest hits with the kids has been an event where anyone can pay $1 to hit a car with a sledgehammer three times.

Larry Cullen, owner of Murray's Body Shop, said he has always been a big supporter of the event and is glad to have his business associated with it.

"Herrin and the community has always been good to me," Cullen said. "This helps the community and everybody else."

codell.rodriguez@thesouthern.com

351-5804

American Heart Association Car Show

Registration for the show begins at 8 a.m., judging begins at 11 a.m. and trophies are given out at 3 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 20, in Creal Springs City Park. For more information, call Whittle at 922-1681 or 942-4220.