Although the weather was frightful Saturday night, quite a few people turned out for the seventh annual Sportsmen's Banquet at Hope Community Church, Weisenberg Township.

Several whitetail deer mounts were brought in for judging by the audience.

As there were no other animal mounts, a prize for the best head mount and a prize for the best set of antlers were awarded.

Erica Bond of Breinigsville won the prize for best mount and Cody Baugher of New Tripoli won for best antlers.

A fine dinner of venison lasagna, stroganoff or shepherd's pie and turkey, salmon, squirrel and rabbit stew, potatoes, cucumber salad, desserts and beverages was served.

Pastor Ken Kalisz welcomed attendees and gave the prayer for the evening.

Jerry Madtes served as master of ceremonies with help from some church members.

Madtes introduced Dr. Kirby Keller, who gave a presentation on his recent moose hunt in Alberta, Canada.

Keller is a minister, teacher, lifelong fisherman and hunter, hunter safety instructor and conservation volunteer for the Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources.

Keller, who bagged a fine bull moose on his visit last year, showed slides of the hunt and described details of the trip.

A good time was had by all. Stories, old and new, were swapped; new friendships were made while those who had passed on were remembered.

Some are already looking forward to next year when new tales will be told and maybe some new friendships will be made.

The idea for the sportsmen's banquet was borrowed from a church near Cherryville, which had great success with its program.

Hope Community Church was founded in 1994, with services held in a garage. Then, after acquiring an 11-acre site, the new church opened its doors in 2005.

The church's goal is to attract people who have no church affiliation but would like to start an association with one.