Haunted House, Octoberfest usher in Halloween (Part 2)

Before the weather in Phillips County completely transitioned from Fall to Winter last week - and Halloween decorations flip to those of Christmas (sorry, Thanksgiving) - the Malta Merchants hosted Octoberfest downtown with contests and the official Christmas Scrip kick-off.

At Stockman's Terrace on Thursday night, the Second Annual Soup Cookoff was held in conjunction with the Scarecrow Decorating Contest as contestants and hungry guests alike attended the outdoor event where three different soups where on-hand to be sampled.

Alesha Ereaux - the owner of A.E. Catering - got a late start on her soup cooking on the day but was able to whip up a crockpot full of chicken corn chowder.

I had about four hours to get something made so I went with the quickest thing I know," she said. "I think it turned out amazing, but I made it, so I am a little biased."

Jessica Cebulski had a little longer than Ereaux to come up with her soup entry on the night as she borrowed Olive Garden's popular Zuppa Toscana recipe, a rich dish which includes kale, potatoes, sausage, cream and bacon and was garnished with cheese and a small slice of toasted bread Cebulski toasted in her very own 'Easy Bake Over' - her words - at the Stockman Terrace.

"I really liked how it turned out and it is my favorite," she said. "It's the only soup I know how to make so I figured why not."

Ereaux and Cebulski ran into the buzz saw also known as Nancy LaBrie lobster bisque soup that was not only emptied before the PCN arrived on the scene, but also earned first place honors by voters on the night and earned her $100 in Dino Bucks.

The Scarecrow Decorating contest was won by Brianna and Brain Shores and their son Daxton (Blue Ridge Brewery owners who served beer at the event and sponsored music trivia) and for the second year in a row, $pare Change won the Storefront Decorating Contest.