Two benefits planned to honor Murry

Two benefits and a bank account have been set up to help defray medical expenses for Nevada Daily Mail/Weekend Herald-Tribune Reporter Rusty Murry.

Murry is undergoing cancer treatment. He will have been with the Nevada paper for four years in January. He also worked for the publication for a while in 2005 and has written for various other papers in the area.

A chili luncheon is set for 11:30 a.m.-1 p.m. Oct. 5 on the courthouse lawn. Cost will be $5 a bowl, Nevada/Vernon County Chamber of Commerce Executive Director Gina Ensor said.

A spaghetti dinner will be held at the Fraternal Order of Eagles Lodge, 3313 E Austin Blvd., from 5-8 p.m. Oct. 6. The Blue Jacket Band, made up musicians from other groups, will perform and a few raffles conducted. Admission is $10 at the door.

A bank account has also be set up at Heritage Bank, so anyone who wants to may contribute to the Rusty Murry Benefit Fund, Ensor said.

The fundraisers came together quickly. "It was just a couple of friends getting together saying we need to do this because we love Rusty," Ensor said. When she and Dr. Tricia Bridgewater of the Wellness Center began making calls, people they called reached out and things snowballed from there.

"He's got a lot of friends this community," Ensor said. "We can't walk in his shoes because we're not him, but we can sure do what we can to help out. We definitely encourage everybody to come out, even if they're at the 4-H chicken barbecue; if they get out of there early, please come by. Rusty has been there covering the stories of everybody's lives in this community and this is his life and this is our way of giving back for all the hard work he's put in."

Murry will be with the Daily Mail and Weekend Herald-Tribune for four years as of Jan. 9, 2013, and he did a brief stint at the Daily Mail in 2005. Previously, he worked for several area papers.

"I think it's a very generous thing they're doing and I greatly appreciate it," Murry said. "I was truly touched when Gina called me earlier (on Friday). I do appreciate the support I have in the community. ... This reinforces my reasons for living in Nevada."