WEST PLAINS, Mo. – Over 300 items, including a jersey autographed by former St. Louis Cardinals shortstop and Hall of Famer Ozzie Smith, are expected to be offered on the auction block at Missouri State University-West Plains’ 17th Annual Auction, set to begin at 5:30 p.m. Friday, April 1, at the West Plains Civic Center exhibition hall.
The theme this year is “Treasure Island,” and dress for the event is casual.

In addition to the Ozzie Smith jersey, items donated early for the auction include a sewing machine from Gammill Sewing Center; a wine and goodie basket from Grapevine Grocer; an iPod Touch; hand-crafted wooden boxes and baskets by Clint Hinds of Willow Springs; and a commemorative basketball autographed by University of Missouri Men’s Basketball Head Coach Mike Anderson.

Tickets are $25 per person and include dinner served from 5:30 to 7 p.m., entertainment by Kent and Beci Coffee of Yellville, Ark., and many opportunities to bid on practical items, trips, experience packages and more, organizers said.  The event will feature both a silent and live auction, they added.

For the first time this year, organizers are offering the special opportunity for attendees to sponsor a table, which will feature reserved seating for eight and two bottles of wine to be served at the table.  Table sponsorships will cost $250, organizers said.

Area residents who would like to contribute either as an event sponsor or with a donated item should contact the Missouri State-West Plains development office at 417-255-7240 or by e-mail at WPDevelopment@missouristate.edu.  Tickets also can be purchased through these contacts, organizers said.

Organizers also encouraged area residents to check out the auction website, http://wp.missouristate.edu/development/auction.htm, and Facebook page, “MSU-WP Auction,” periodically to keep track of items as they are added to the list.

Auction committee members include Bev and Rick Hamby, Tracy Grigsby, Dennis Lancaster, Susan Courter, Heather Bennett, Andi Hilburn-Vaini, Vicki Kimes, Haley Mitchell, Jane Thomas, Valerie Williams and Kathy Schloss, as well as Missouri State-West Plains development office staff members Elizabeth Grisham, Joe Kammerer, Debbi Martin, Debra Mosley, Jessi Long and Terry Hampton.

    SEVERAL MEMBERS OF THE 17TH Annual Auction Committee at Missouri State University-West Plains show some of the items that already have been donated for the event, set for 5:30 p.m. Friday, April 1, at the West Plains Civic Center exhibit hall.  Kneeling from left, committee member Jane Thomas with a sewing machine from Gammill Sewing Center; committee member Haley Mitchell with a wine and goodie basket from Grapevine Grocer; Missouri State-West Plains Director of Development Elizabeth Grisham with a wooden recipe box handcrafted by Clint Hinds, Willow Springs; and development office administrative assistant Debra Mosley with an iPod Touch.  Back row:  Committee member Heather Bennett with a basketball autographed by Mizzou Men’s Basketball Head Coach Mike Anderson; Assistant Director of Development Joe Kammerer; committee member Kathy Schloss with a wooden basket from Hinds; committee member Dennis Lancaster; committee member Valerie Williams with a baseball jersey autographed by former St. Louis Cardinal great Ozzie Smith; development office administrative assistant Debbie Martin with another basket from Hinds; and Terry Hampton, events coordinator for the development office.  (Missouri State-West Plains Photo)