Orient man wins Hy-Vee guitar giveaway

Tim Osborne of Orient is a regular customer at Creston Hy-Vee, and has a special place in his heart for the K-9 cause.

Osborne, 35, was contacted by Hy-Vee management Tuesday about his win, and he said he was shocked at first.

“At first I was kind of shocked that I won something,” Osborne said. “They just called and said that I won a guitar for the K-9 thing in Creston Hy-Vee.”

Osborne is a weekly shopper at Hy-Vee, and also understands the cause better than some. Osborne is a former police officer. He served the communities of Corning and Villisca, and donates regularly to law enforcement fundraisers.

“I’m big in the K-9 unit because my father-in-law was in the K-9 unit in Decatur County,” Osborne said. “I’ve seen the K-9 used and they’re a great asset.”

Osborne’s daughter, Carter, 10, was excited her father won the guitar. Osborne said she was sitting next to him when he got the call and told him, “I want it.”

Brandon McDonald, manager of perishables, has been the front runner of this fundraiser since its inception several weeks ago. After two Saturday meals with approximately five dozen purchases, sales of Kenny Chesney’s Blue Chair Bay rum, a doughnut sale and straight monetary donations, Hy-Vee customers helped the store raise $1,000 to be donated toward Creston’s K-9 police unit.

“We were just looking for something and given the opportunity with the guitar,” McDonald said. “We were fortunate enough to find something in the community that we could give back to and it’s nice we could help out with the K-9 unit.”

Creston Police Department has been without a K-9 since Minko was retired in December 2016. Since then, the officers have been fundraising with various events to help with the nearly $50,000 cost for the animal, training and equipment.

“I would consider it a success,” McDonald said. “I think that $1,000 in two weeks is pretty good and that the community could come together and support the local police department.”

“(Carter) was pretty happy that I won. She doesn’t play guitar yet, but it’s something that she wants to do,” Osborne said. “I’m a huge supporter of law enforcement and that’s basically why I did it.”

McDonald said Hy-Vee management plans to do more events in the future.