Locking lips with “Chip” for a good cause

Jeff Sweeney of Sweeney Auction Service puckers up for “Chip”, a St. Patrick School fourth grade project rat being held by St. Patrick fourth grade teacher Loretta Schafer in the above photo. Sweeney collected his prize at a school assembly last week after winning St. Patrick School’s First Annual Kiss the Rat Contest, the fourth grade class project for St. Patrick’s annual Mardi Gras fundraising event. Sweeney was one of six contestants who had their names attached to donation jars at various locations around Waukon in a rather unique effort to raise funds for the Friends of St. Patrick School. Sweeney scored the top dollar amount for the contest, topping the other five contestants, which included St. Patrick Pastor Fr. Joe Schneider, Cynthia Berger, KNEI Radio’s Chuck Allen, St. Patrick School Principal Marcia Kruse, and Waukon Mayor Dwight Jones. In addition to having a lot of fun throughout the contest, the effort raised over $850 for St. Patrick School. Along with his “prize” of kissing the rat, Sweeney was also awarded a care package that included lip balm, Tic Tacs, and mouthwash, as well as a commemorative hat and, of course, a bag of chocolate kisses.