BY ROGER SMITH
MOUNTAIN CITIZEN

INEZ — LT Preece cooked soup beans over an open fire Friday in front of the old Martin County Courthouse to raise funds for his granddaughter’s trip to Guatemala.

“They’re going to build houses and stuff,” Preece said. “It’s going to cost her $1,000 to get down there.”

The Inez resident put 33 pounds of beans, 17 gallons of water, salt, bacon and lard into his cast-iron kettle.

He sold his soup bean dinner, which included beans & cornbread and kraut & wieners, for $6. Beans & cornbread only sold for $5.