Hamming it up for a cause

There's a first time for everything, and Monday morning was the first time a pig stepped foot in KWOS 950 AM'S broadcast studio in Jefferson City.

The pig, Baloney, had 10 minutes of fame on-air with Warren Krech.

Baloney was one of two pigs that played a part in an April Fools' Day Salvation Army fundraiser, organized by Majs. Richard and Beth Trimmell.

Maj. Beth Trimmell and Miss Northwest Missouri 2013 Jessica Mejia brought Baloney to Krech and said, "We found your pig! We found your pig and are here for the $50 reward." They presented a reward poster with Krech's name on it.

"Well, I didn't lose a pig," Krech said.

"Ann Bax (with United Way of Central Missouri) said you did, and we're here to collect the reward," Trimmell said.

Krech replied again that the pig wasn't his.

"For a small $50 legal fee, you can sign this (paper) and tell me whose pig it is, then," Trimmell said.

Krech decided Baloney, clad in a diaper and pink collar, belonged to Jefferson City Mayor Eric Struemph.

The on-air personality paid his "legal fee," and Trimmell, Mejia and Baloney continued on their journey to visit Struemph.

The trio visited many other individuals in the community Monday, and Baloney was to be returned to his rightful owner, a Westphalia farmer, today.

The Jefferson City fundraiser raised the organization nearly $1,400.

"We had lots of great folks," Maj. Beth Trimmell said. "It was wonderful. I was just so impressed with the community spirit in Jefferson City."

Maj. Richard Trimmell spearheaded the same fundraiser Monday in Columbia.

The couple held similar ones at past Salvation Army appointments.