Raccoon back on menu for fundraiser

Donors to the Hibernia Community Building in Indiana learned today that raccoon will once again be served at the annual fundraising dinner. Eighty six year old LaVeran Lorenz announced she will resume cooking duties for the March 24 event - provided that her neighbor help with the cleaning.

The Journal and Courier Online from West Lafayette, Indiana reported that Allus Franklin and other hunters in the town on Hibernia Road off Indiana 62 about 20 miles north of Louisville, Ky., have bagged 103 raccoons for the event.

Lorenz, who had handled much of the raccoon cooking duty for every fundraiser since the early 1950s, begged off after the 2002 event.

The 21 members of the Owen Township Homemakers since have prepared chili and ham and beans for fundraisers, but people have pleaded with the cook to bring raccoon back to the table.

Helen Sue Sneed, a daughter of Lorenz's, said she wasn't surprised her mother agreed."It's what keeps her going," Sneed told the AP. "She enjoys being around people. That's a big part of it."

For those who don't have a taste for the "wild meat," a much calmer meat - turkey - will be served along with dressing and gravy, parsley potatoes, sweet potatoes, green beans and rolls.