My turn: Auction benefits community

For 36 years now, the annual KENW tele-auction has been a source of summer entertainment in my house. I love that all of the items are donated (many by local merchants!), and that all of the proceeds help support our very own public broadcasting station.

I'll confess that I miss the days when the whole event was conducted live on-the-air with people like Clyde Powell celebrating overbids by crowing like a rooster, and Don Criss hawking peanut butter to the masses, and the late Dallan Sanders humorously challenging viewers to dig a little deeper and outbid their neighbors.

It was fun catching glimpses of Frankye King keeping tabs on the local kids who literally ran with the bids as the clock ran out.

Producer Sheryl Borden says the online version is simpler and more profitable, and if all goes well, the 1,500 items on the block will reap $60,000 for KENW through June 10.

The virtual auction is already up and running at auction.kenw.org. If you'd rather browse a printed auction guide and call in your bid, that option is available for $2 by calling KENW at 562-2112 or dropping by the Broadcast Center at ENMU.

Bid early, bid often and bid high! This is one auction where everyone wins.

Betty Williamson is already scanning the auction website for items she can't live without. You may reach her at [email protected].