The buzzer sounded Friday at noon for the first round of the Perry Chamber of Commerce’s Big Boom Bracket Battle promotion, and the stage is now set for the “Firecracker Four.”
The new fireworks fundraiser pitted eight prominent Perry residents against each other in a tournament format, with the winner of each matchup decided by who received the most monetary donations. The new battles are between Hulgan’s Plumbing and Heating owner J.P. Hulgan and Perry Police Chief Eric Vaughn in the 1 vs. 4 seed matchup, and Perry Public Works Director Jack Butler and Perry DMACC Director Eddie Diaz in the 2 vs. 3 matchup.
Chamber Director Lynsi Pasutti said the battles came down to the wire for most competitors, including Diaz and opponent Mark Powell with the Finneseth, Dalen, and Powell Law Firm, who were only separated by $10. The total raised in the first round from all eight competitors was $2,735, which Pasutti felt was a great start to the fireworks fundraiser. The other individuals eliminated in the first round were Backwards Boutique Owner Emily Leslie, Assistant Perry Library Director Misty VonBehren, and Nudgers member Cheri Scheib. Pasutti offered her thanks to each member of the “Explosive Eight,” as well as to the community for supporting the fundraiser.
The second round will run from now until Friday, June 26th at noon, and the finals will be June 27th through July 3rd. For more information on the Big Boom Bracket Battle, click the link below to visit the Chamber’s Facebook page.