http://www.newsregister.com/news/story.cfm?story_no=182261

Biggest turkey take ever

Published: July 10, 2004

Biggest Turkey candidate Regan Dugger, dressed as a cowboy, takes an arrow
for his cause at the lip-synch contest. Dugger placed second in the
contest.

Chrissy Ragulsky/News-Register

By JENNIFER M. BEAR
Of the News-Register

Now the world knows the truth - doctors really are big turkeys. Or at least
one of them is.

McMinnville urologist Dr. Craig Kiser was crowned Biggest Turkey on Friday
night after raising the most money for Legacy VNA Hospice, $21,506. He also
stole the show in the Biggest Turkey Lip-Synch Contest with an elaborate
oceanic skit set to the tune of The Beatles' "Octopus' Garden."

Kiser, who represented Willamette Valley Medical Center in the contest,
broke the record with his fund-raising efforts, raising the most money of
any single candidate ever, according to VNA Foundation development
specialist Stephanie Stoller. With the combined efforts of four would-be
turkeys and one would-be turkey duo, the total for this year's campaign
soared to $44,394, surpassing last year's campaign total of $29,000.

"It's been a great year and the turkeys have worked real hard," Stoller
said.

Seating in the parking lot of Oregon Mutual Insurance was packed by the
start of the contest at 7 p.m. Hundreds of curious observers and die-hard
fans flocked to the contest to catch a glimpse of the outrageous costumes
and over-the-top skits.

Kiser's lip-synch performance was the most elaborate, using the most backup
dancers and props and the most organized dance numbers. The stage depicted
an oceanic scene with a giant painted pink octopus and shimmery blue sea
horse.

Two beached mermaids with glittery green tails flapped their fins in
languor on the right side of the stage. And then, the Big Kahuna arrived.
Kiser was carried to the stage on top of a surfboard, looking regal in his
bright orange goggles, turkey nose and orange duck feet. He strutted
through the number at the center of a gaggle of girls in green T-shirts and
shorts with filmy fabric flowing elegantly from their upraised arms.

The audience laughed uproariously at his on-stage antics, and after the
announcement came that he was the winner, many folks lined up to offer him
their congratulations on his performance and his astounding fund-raising
abilities.

"I had so much help," Kiser said after the contest. "I was just overwhelmed
with generosity from people supporting the hospice in the community."

Sean Amiot, director of facilities at Hillside Residential Communities,
earned second place in the Biggest Turkey Contest by raising $10,067, and
fourth place in the lip-synch contest with his rendition of "Red Hat
Ladies." Amiot, wearing a satin plum dress, cardinal red feather boa and
elbow-length purple gloves, was accompanied by six lovely ladies from the
Red Hat Society. The group sizzled on stage, sashaying their hips back and
forth, and when the lyrics, "I'm a red hat lady, just a little bit shady,"
came on, a few of the daring dancers tugged up their skirts to flaunt a
little leg.

Amiot wasn't the only man wearing a dress that evening. Hair stylists
Mackenzie Newman and Leah Baker from Catz Meow gave a makeover to a man in
a dress during their performance of "Working 9 to 5," and came in third
place for the lip synch contest.

Regan Dugger, a host with VIP services at Spirit Mountain Casino, was third
biggest turkey with $7,631 and earned second place in the lip-synch contest
performing "I Want to be a Cowboy." Wearing a Spider-Man pajama set, Dugger
sat in a makeshift playpen on stage, sucking on a pacifier, surrounded by
stuffed animals. As the lyrics of the song began to play, he climbed onto
his stallion, a stuffed horse head attached to a stick, and galloped back
and forth across the stage with a silly smile on his face.

Lettie Minors, who represented Parkland Village, was not able to perform in
the contest for personal reasons, but a troupe of dancers from Marchant
Ballet Academy in McMinnville performed for the crowd. However, their
elegant, reserved ballet seemed out of place at the always loud and flashy
Biggest Turkey Lip Synch Contest.