A chili-cooking contest is scheduled for later this month, in order to help raise money to purchase new equipment for the radiology department at Atmore Community Hospital.

The “Support ACH Chili Cook Off” will be Saturday, Feb 22, from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m., at the Tom Byrne Park in Atmore.
There will be two types of tickets available. An “all-you-can-eat” chili wristband can be purchased for $15, or a five-chili-sample ticket can be purchased for $7.

“Having a community hospital in our hometown is a vital service, which we cannot afford to lose,” Atmore Mayor Jim Staff said.

The goal of the event is to raise enough money to help buy a General Electric radiographic/fluoroscopic system, which costs between $83,000 and $118,000.

Teams who are participating in the event paid a $100 registration fee, and several businesses are also serving as sponsors.

A community group, “Citizens for Atmore Community Hospital,” is organizing the event. This committee includes Staff; the Rev. Debora Bishop, pastor of First United Methodist Church; the Rev. Willie Hawthorne, pastor of Greater Mt. Triumph; Sandy Hollinger, a member of the PCI Tribal Council; the Rev. Darryl North, pastor of Empowerment Tabernacle; council member Susan Smith; Lynn Woodcock, public relations director for PCI gaming; Stephanie Bryan, vice chair of the PCI Tribal Council; Caroline Hayles, imaging manager at ACH; council member Webb Nall; Bill Perkins, administrator at ACH; and Megan Young, executive assistant to the PCI vice chair.