Guest of honor, Joe West, was among about 450 people who attended a Sept. 30 fund-raiser at Trowbridge Pavilion which raised $32,171 through a spaghetti dinner and silent and live auctions to help defray West’s on-going medical expenses in his battle with cancer. West (at right) was presented a surprise gift from his friends and benefit organizer Walt Kight – a bear skin rug, which has a story behind it. In the early 1970s while hunting together, Kight bagged a bear and West shot an antelope with a muzzleloader rifle. They sent the animals to a taxidermist, but when they tried to pick them up, the taxidermist said he had sent them notice and eventually sold the animals. The fellows lost out. More recently, West shot a bear and was having the rug prepared by local taxidermist Lyle Klenski until West was sidelined with illness. Sunday’s gift rectified these setbacks. In other news at the auction, David Bremner’s name was drawn for the Winchester 300 Mag rifle; numerous other door prizes were awarded throughout the evening. The Baja vacation package was purchased for $2,500 by employees of Oregon Trail Electric Co-op. A quilt made by Sharon Mitchell sold for $350.