It was a chilly day for the team at Clarksdale Public Utilities (CPU), as they celebrated their annual Chili Cook-Off competition and lunch event.
Long tables were lined with plenty of food, including ten different types of chili that team members had entered into the Chili Cook-Off. Once the judges finished sampling the entries, it was time for everyone to dig in while the results were tabulated.
The winner was announced, and it was Curtis D. Boschert, the CPU general manager. When his name was announced, several people jokingly called for a speech. Boschert replied to laughter that there was plenty of his chili still left. As the reigning champion, Boschert received the Golden Spoon trophy and an entire year of bragging rights.
The event has been held each year since 2014, explained Michelle Bourne. “It started around the time that we started team spirit day, with everyone wearing the colors or jerseys of their favorite college or pro team. This is something that everyone enjoys, and it’s a great way of just hanging out” she said. “This is our first year to do it in the warehouse and I like it here. We missed last year (2020) because of the pandemic, so it’s great to do normal things again. This is a really good place to work and we do things to make sure we all spend some time together.”
For one judge, Michael Wade, the Chili Cook-Off was both a fun event and a personal homecoming. Wade retired in 2019 after working his entire career with the CPU. “I started right out of high school. They said the only job opening they had was as a custodian, and I said I would take it and work my way up. My last seven years were as plant manager. So it was an honor when they called to ask me to judge,” he explained. “It’s great to see so many people I know today. I never entered the contest because I enjoy chili but I’m not a big fan of cooking.”
One person who does a good bit of cooking is Sasha Monty. As a caterer, Monty was well-qualified for her service as a judge for the contest. Monty lives in Lyon. The third judge was Tom Ward, the new managing editor of the Clarksdale Press Register. The judges were asked to give a grade between one and ten in four categories: the color, the texture, the aroma and the flavor. The three judges had no knowledge of who had prepared each chili entry.
Over 80 employees work at CPU, which is owned by the City of Clarksdale. The services provided include water, electricity, and wastewater treatment.
