Last Saturday, the Ruleville Fire and Police departments were outside singing, “Who let the dogs out?” as the two groups of civil servants squared off in a hot dog eating contest at the Bumpers Drive-In on MS-8.
The town’s law enforcement officers arrested the victory by apprehending 36 of the free frankfurters during the allotted 10-minutes, while the firefighters were only able to extinguish 29.
A six-man/woman team from each division, along with their supporters, braved near freezing temperatures on Saturday and faced-off in a “best of” friendly competition.
Each contestant displayed his or her own method of accomplishing the goal, some weenies went down bun-less, while others were consumed condiments only.
John Bullard, marketing director, Bumpers Drive-In, said Saturday’s event was strictly for fun. He called it a way to bring the community together. “With the police, the firefighters, the hospital, and Bumpers, (it was) just one united thing, something for everyone to come out, be a part of and just kind of make a memory,” he said.
The winning team was awarded $250 cash, a huge trophy with a hot dog on top, a gift bag courtesy of North Sunflower Medical Center and bragging rights.
In addition to the group prizes, a supplemental cash award of $50 went to the individual team member that downed the most dogs and Officer Andrew Martyn gulped down six hot dogs to take home that honor.
The Bumpers Drive-In of America and North Sunflower County Medical Center sponsored the event.
The winners were Officer Andrew Martyn, Captain Amos Michner, Officers, Youlanda Harris, Nick Hall, Ladarius Tucker and Antonio White
