Benefit 'awesome' for man hurt in Jan. 3 train accident

Friends of a Nevada native who lost limbs in a Jan. 3 train accident raised $1,672 for him in a Saturday benefit at Boomer's Roadhouse.

Undergoing therapy in Chicago since the accident near Lafayette, Ind., Northfolk Southern Railway conductor Larry McVay and his wife Lisa had touched local hearts to an "awesome" degree, said Roadhouse co-owner Debbie Scotten Tuesday.

"Auctioneer Adam Ashby sold $400 in merchandise for $1,041," Scotten said. "He got $85 for an 8-by-10 photo of Larry, who was really happy because he had been in the hospital for six weeks.

"A lot of local busineses donated merchandise and gift certificates, including Dollar General on Osage Street, Country Inn & Suites and Missouri Eagle and Heart of America Budweiser and Miller Light and Coors Light distributorships."

Reporting that 114 people took part, Scotten said, "It was an excellent benefit.

"More than 50 percent didn't know Larry because he had left here when he graduated from Nevada High School in 1986. They just knew what happened and came by.

"Donnie Meisen-heimer's 6-year-old grandson worked all day. Somebody asked if he was going to miss his motorcycle race and he said, 'Yeah, but there'll be another one.'"

McVay, 43, lost his right arm and right leg when a train backed into him.

Scotten said the benefit from 4 to 9 p.m., featuring Platinum Entertainment disc jockey Marlene Scotten, encompassed a wide range of local society. "You felt good to get together with people for a common cause," she said.

"It was awesome. It wasn't just people from the country club, Chamber of Commerce or the Eagles. It was everyone. Some just stopped by with donations, but most people stayed and got in on the fun."