Published: January 12, 2009 08:59 am      

Girl Scouts host Cookie Munch Off

By VANESSA WELCH

vanessa.welch@register-news.com

MT. VERNON — One cookie after the next disappeared within seconds during the 2nd Annual Girl Scout Cookie Munch Off Saturday at Times Square Mall.

Local celebrities who participated in the eating contest were given a choice between Thin Mints or Trefoils, along with milk or water to assist in downing each bite.

“Someone told me to mix the cookies with water,” David Keen of Rent One said as anticipation from contestants and audience members rose before the competition. “Then they dissolve and you can drink them down easier.”

Three heats took place during the munch off, with the top two contestants from each heat advancing to finals. The bar was set early when Kevin Young of Peoples National Bank ate 22 cookies in the first round, tying with last year’s overall winner, Travis Loyd of Jackson Hewitt.

After the last minute of finals, no cookie was left behind from Jimmy Bass of the Register-News, who won by dunking and consuming 30 cookies. Nick Lemay earned second place, and third place honors went to Trevor Titsworth.

“I went for the Thin Mints, and I should have taken the other cookie because Thin Mints don’t dissolve,” Brandon Bullard of the Jefferson County Chamber of Commerce said. “My strategy was to take a drink after every third cookie because that’s what I had practiced at home, but it didn’t really work. Next year I’ll have to sacrifice flavor for numbers.”

Other competitors, including Lorez Rouse of JC Penny, said they also learned various methods while participating in the event for the first time.

“I realized you should drink a small amount of water before you begin because the first cookie dried my mouth out,” Rouse said. “I thought the event was great and I think this is a really great turnout for the mall.”

The friendly competition was held as a way to kick off this year’s Girl Scout Cookie sales which will take place from Jan. 10 to Jan 25. Amanda Hutchison, communications specialist of the Girl Scouts of Shagbark Council, said that each troop earns 60 cents of every box they sell, and trips, projects and activities are planned according to how much is raised.

Information from the organization states the cookie program helps girls gain self-esteem and confidence while they manage inventory, set goals, learn about money management and develop marketing skills.

“The Girl Scout cookie program is a valuable part of the Girl Scout experience,” Girl Scouts of Shagbark Council CEO Roberta Campbell said. “The skills girls gain truly help them develop into future business leaders. It is always exciting to see girls developing skills they might not realize they are developing while it’s happening.”

More than 20 contestants helped to promote cookie sales including Young, Jason Quinn, Keen, Carlene Brown, Bass, Adam Breeze, Jeff Bradley, Roger Mulch, Derek Marbury, Bullard, Rouse, Paul Schutte, Dr. Jimmy Chow, Rhonda McCowen, Hank Villani, Titsworth, Lemay, Ed Cunningham, Doug Hoffman, Mike Beard and Mary Jane Chesley.

Girl Scouts were also on hand to provide cookie samples as they greeted audience members and discussed the newest addition, Dulce de Leche, which Hutchison said is a milk-carmel chip cookie with drizzling on top.

Girl Scouts of Shagbark Council currently serves more than 6,200 girls and 1,700 adult volunteers in 28 counties in Southern Illinois. To order cookies call 242-5079 or visit www.shagbark.org.