Family recipe wins United Way chili cookoff

DUNCAN  An old family recipe that will remain a secret enabled Vera Budlong to take top honors in the eighth annual Duncan Regional Hospital chili cookoff Monday, launching the hospital's internal fundraising campaign for the United Way of Stephens County.

"It's my dad's recipe," she said. "Though I was surprised to win, our family knew it was a good recipe, and it's nice to think others thought it was good, too."

Her winning chili beat 13 other entries in competition that included two former winners and last year's second- and third-place finishers. It was the first time Budlong, who is a diabetes educator, had participated.