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Friday, October 30, 2026Oct 30

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Rec league’s home-cooked appreciation lunch a hit with county maintenance workers

photo Carol Pearson serves employees of the Hamilton County Maintenance Department. Pearson cooked lunch for the department to say thanks for their work keeping up the grounds at the Harrison Youth Association.

ON THE MENU• 5 chicken potpies• 3 squash casseroles• 3 pans chicken and dressing• 101 meatballs with gravy and onions• 2 pans broccoli- cheese casserole• 2 gallons pinto beans with ham• 10 pounds potato salad• 1 large vegetable salad• Several dozen deviled eggs• Several dozen ham and cheese rolls• 1 large Romaine lettuce/Mandarin orange salad• 28 Oreo sundaes• 5 gallons iced teaSource: Carol Pearson

For six years, Carol Pearson has taken on a food challenge for which few women would volunteer.

Pearson prepares a hot, home-cooked lunch for employees of the Hamilton County Maintenance Department once a year. She’s had anywhere from 17 to 70 hungry guys sit down to her table. This month, she served 40.

Starting days in advance, Pearson cooks a minimum of a dozen dishes — making multiples of entrees — to fill out a huge buffet that is served in the meeting room at the Harrison Youth Association on Highway 58.

And she does it all from scratch.