The Plains Trap Club celebrated their winter shooting league’s accomplishments on Friday night with a potluck barbeque dinner and awards ceremony.

Awards included the highest overall score, best lady shooter, short to long yard distance and best junior shooters, for example.

About 30 members and families attended the event.  According to Tony Colombo, an event organizer and club secretary, there are about 100 members though it changes year to year. 

“We’re a very friendly club,” said Colombo.  “There are accommodations for travelers as well such as RV and camper hook-ups.  Anyone is always welcome, and we do get many out of town people who come because they just like our club.”

The Plains club is run mainly by community volunteers, which cuts down on many costs to run the facility.  Another benefit of having volunteers is it lowers the cost of the price to shoot at the club.

“The community has proven it is good at volunteering,” said Cookie Kunzer, a club member and event organizer.  “Volunteers keep the costs down so we don’t have to pay for as many employees and our shooters can enjoy reasonable prices.”

Colombo handed out prizes to winners including engraved thermoses, barbeque sets, flasks and embroidered bags, and thanked everyone for participating in the winter league, which began on January 4.

“You’ve got to find something to do during the winters here,” said Colombo.  “It’s a fun activity for a range of ages.”

There are five shooting stations at the club, said Colombo.  Each shooter gets five shots per station and then the scoring goes from there.

The club also hosts an Amateur Trap Shooting Association (ATA) shoot at the end of June.  According to Columbo, people come from all over the state and also Idaho, Washington and Canada. Turkey Shoots are also hosted three times per year at the club.

The Plains Trap Club spring shooting league started on Tuesday, March 22 and runs until the end of May.

Winter league winners include: Wanye Crismore for short yard, Marv Rehbein for middle yard, and Doug Shaver for long yard.  The highest score for the lady shooter catagory was Jackie Garrings, best junior was Rosie Sweet, and the highest overall shooter was Barry Gilpin.