Algonquin dad takes second in Sears 'Heroes' contest
Scott Longmire, the Algonquin resident who was a finalist in Sears' "Unsung Heroes: Dads Making a Difference" web contest, has officially placed second.
Earlier this winter, the 35-year-old dad and his wife, Christine, went on a two-week mission trip to Ghana where they built a well in a remote village and encouraged residents in another village to retrofit a local distillery so it could filter water for the residents.
The Longmires first become involved in the project after seeing images of young children in other parts of the world who were getting sick and dying because they didn't have access to clean drinking water. So the couple decided to do something about it. They learned how to drill wells through Hydromissions International. Next year they are planning a similar trip to northern India.
Longmire entered the contest, and Sears recognized him for his hard work. As one of 10 finalists in the nation, he scored $3,000 in tools from Sears.
The grand prize was $30,000 for a project of the winner's dreams and a team of Sears builders to make it happen.
If Longmire had won the grand prize, he would have used the funds to rehab Camp Awana in Wisconsin, because he attended camp there as a child and volunteers there to this day.
"One of the things that made these last weeks so exciting was being a part of something bigger than ourselves," Longmire said via e-mail. "As the contest name implies, this is about 'Making a Difference,' and there is no reason that should be 'over' just because the contest is."
Throwing bags for charity: If you've got a great arm, you may want to consider using it in the bean bag charity tournament that the Algonquin Lions Club is organizing.
The double-elimination tournament will start at 11 a.m. Saturday, Aug. 21, at Buffalo Wild Wings Grill and Bar, 461 S. Randall Road in Algonquin, and costs $30 per team to enter.
All proceeds will benefit the Lions Club's special needs scholarship fund and the Algonquin-Lake in the Hills Food Pantry. Cash prizes will be given to the teams that place first, second and third in the tournament - $200, $100 and $50, respectively.
Even if you don't place in the top three, you can still walk away with a raffle prize. The club will be raffling off four White Sox tickets with privileged parking and seating in the Miller Suite, a round of golf for four at the Golf Club of Illinois in Algonquin, dinner at Port Edward Restaurant that includes a one-night stay at Holiday Inn Express in Algonquin, and 40 gift certificates from various area businesses.
You can fill out a tournament entry form at lionsclubofalgonquin.org or pick one up at Buffalo Wild Wings in Algonquin. Entry is limited to the first 32 teams, and registration on the day of the event costs $40 a team. The rain date for the tournament is Sunday, Aug. 22.
Even if bags isn't your sport, come out for the free hearing screenings for all ages that will be available from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday in the restaurant's parking lot.
• Lenore Adkins covers Algonquin, Lake in the Hills, Pingree Grove, Cary, Fox River Grove and McHenry County College. To reach her, e-mail ladkins@dailyherald.com or call (847) 608-2725.