HERRIN -- Ruth Maynor is no stranger to the HerrinFesta Italiana Pasta Sauce contest. And she is no stranger to winning.
That was the case this past Saturday when Maynor captured her fifth title in six tries.
"I'm always surprised when I win. I don't enter a sauce every year," she said. "This year, it was my Alfredo sauce that won. That's the second time I have won with my Alfredo sauce. I have won three other times with my red sauce."
Maynor, who took a planned day off from work at Domino's in Marion to participate in the contest, said her winning recipe included two kinds of cheese -- cream and Parmesan -- as well as bacon bits and mushrooms.
"I whipped it up pretty quick. It takes less than an hour," she said. "My red sauce takes much longer to get ready."
Maynor added that her recipe is a "tweaked" version of her grandmother's.
"I added the cream cheese and kind of made it my own."
For her efforts, Maynor was presented with a cash prize of $100.
"I'm probably going to spend most of it on my grandkids here at the Festa," she said.
Joe Cunetto of Herrin placed second and was awarded a $50 cash prize. Jon Hutchison of Herrin placed third and earned a $25 cash prize.
Capturing the Pasta Eating contest was Murphysboro Middle School student Skylar Williams. He beat out six other contestants for the $100 cash prize.
"It was pretty exciting to win. My family talked me into trying it. They said I could probably win, and they were right," Williams said.
The eighth-grader-to-be said he didn't know what he would do with his winnings.
Bill Carnaghi of Herrin placed first in the Bigga Nose contest with a measurement of 2 1/2 inches, bridge to tip.
"After 63 years, it finally paid off," Carnaghi said of his championship schnozz. "This was just a last-minute thing. My wife, Lisa, said I ought to enter, so I did. I had no idea I could win. It was a total surprise."
Like Maynor, Carnaghi said he would probably reinvest his $100 in prize money into the Festa.
Marilyn Ruppel and Tom DeChristina, who have overseen the three contests for 20 years, were recognized with gifts Saturday for their service after the couple announced this would be their last year as hosts.
"We have loved being a part of HerrinFesta these last 20 years," Ruppel said. "We have seen some big rivalries develop in these contests. But it's all been in fun. I know I will miss seeing and visiting with everybody."
DeChristina felt similarly.
"I know I have enjoyed it," he said. "We just want to spend more time with our families now."
DeChristina also praised Scott Massetto, general manager of the Marion Fazoli's restaurant, for providing at no charge pasta for the Pasta Eating contest the last several years.
