Shootin’ Trap for Trips Held at Carthage Rod and Gun Club
Aug 07, 2025 08:53AM ● By Kenzie Shiver
(CARTHAGE, N.Y.) – The Carthage Rod and Gun Club hosted the 13th Annual Shootin’ Trap for Trips fundraiser for the Volunteer Transportation Center Foundation on July 19. This year’s 50 Bird Shoot saw 110 participants and raised more than $5,400 to benefit transportation of Volunteer Transportation Center clients in Jefferson and Lewis Counties.
“This was one of our best years yet for Shootin’ Trap for Trips,” said VTC Foundation Director and Director of Communications Jeremiah S. Papineau. “We had the best turnout I’ve ever seen, and I credit that to the support of not only the Carthage Rod and Gun Club but clubs across the region and the local high school teams who are becoming more and more active every year. We’re extremely grateful to everyone who turned out.”
Top Gun of this year’s 50 Bird Shoot was Declan McFall with a score of (50). Other winners of the shoot were:
CLASS WINNER
Junior Brayden Dindl (49) - Sno Fun Hunting Preserve
Veteran Daniel Covey (47) - Carthage Rod & Gun Club
Senior Veteran Lynn Zehr (47) - Lowville Fish & Game Club
Ladies Charley Jackson (46) - Sno Fun Hunting Preserve
D Emmy Dindl (35) - Sno Fun Hunting Preserve
C Dean Briot (46) - Glen-Greig Fish & Game Club
B Joel Dindl (49) - Sno Fun Hunting Preserve
A Eric Jewett (49) - Sackets Harbor Sportsman Club
AA Mike Vaadi (49) - Brownville Fish & Game Club
Second place went to the following, listed by Class: Junior, Caleb Burgenstock with the Sno Fun Hunting Preserve (47); Veteran, Bob Green with the Sackets Harbor Sportsman Club and John Bach with the Carthage Rod & Gun Club (46); Senior Veteran, Barry Turck with the Harrisville Rod & Gun Club (46); Ladies, Sherri Obey with the Lyme Rod and Gun Club (45); C Class, Valda Arndt with the Carthage Rod & Gun Club (44); B Class, Peyton Amato with the Sno Fun Hunting Preserve (48); A Class, Duane Hoch with the Harrisville Rod & Gun Club (49); AA Class, Terry Zimmer with the Sno Fun Hunting Preserve (49). Third place in the Junior Class went to Ethan Clemons with the Lowville Fish & Game Club with a (46).
Mr. Papineau credited the Carthage Rod and Gun Club with their hard work behind the scenes to get this year’s event off the ground, including club president Dennis Jackson, trap team captain Alan Arndt, and kitchen manager Valda Arndt. He further credited the support of several volunteers who worked the event, including Billie Brown, Dana Brown, Jayden Brown, Brandon Brown, Jennifer McFall, Tim McFall, Penny Covey, David Covey, Nettie Mothersell, Amy Beauford, Sam Purington, Julia Purington, Kim Kern, Xavier Gooch and Ruth Soules.
This year’s Shootin’ Trap for Trips was underwritten by Excellus BlueCross BlueShield, Watertown Savings Bank, Stewart’s Shops, and Advanced Business Systems. Additional sponsors included Silver Level sponsors Black Horse Group, CEM Machine, Croghan Meat Market, i2i Automotive Repair, Knowlton Technologies, St. Louis Trash Service, and Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 7227; Bronze Level sponsors American Legion Post 162, Christman Fuel Service, Dibble & Gellert Family Dentistry, Johnson Lumber, Lewis County Health System, Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 6912, Viking Cives USA, and Nettie Mothersell. Additional support was provided from Dunkin’ and The Roz Bed and Breakfast.
Raffle items were donated by Adirondack Foothills, Advantage Auto, Aubuchon Hardware, Bill’s Feed, Brick Oven Inn, Buckingham Hardware & Great Outdoors, Cedars Golf Course, Croghan Meat Market, Crossroads Tavern, Dolhof True Value, Doyle’s Pub, Dunkin’, Eddie’s Meat Market, Farney’s Home & Building Center, Gillee’s Auto Truck & Marine, Hall Pass Tavern, Jeb’s Restaurant, JRECK Subs, Kathy’s Barber Shop, Kinney Drugs, Lisk’s Florals, Lowville Farmers Co-Op, Lowville Sport & Farm, Otis Technology, Pepsi Bottling Group of Watertown, Pete’s Guns and Sporting Goods, Pizza Hut, Price Chopper, Roggie’s Flooring, RuMar Graphics, Sherwin Williams, Shultz Family Cheese, Silver Bench Jewelry, Simon’s Farm & Home Center, Squishy’s BBQ and Catering, Stefano’s Pizzeria & Restaurant, Tim Fralick Custom Calls, Tops Friendly Markets, TYRO Automotive, Van Tassel’s Gunsmithing, Walmart Supercenter, West Side Bar and Grille, Whistle Stop Tavern, White’s Farm Supply, Yancey’s Sugarbush, and Nettie Mothersell.
Those who missed the event but who would still like to make a contribution to the VTC Foundation may do so by contacting Mr. Papineau at 315-303-2590 or email [email protected].
ABOUT THE VOLUNTEER TRANSPORTATION CENTER
The Volunteer Transportation Center, Inc. (VTC), established in 1991, drives thousands of miles each year assisting community members in Jefferson, Lewis and St. Lawrence Counties and beyond. Over the last 30 years, this essential non-profit organization has provided rides to health care appointments, food sources and other critical needs destinations for residents.
In 2024, volunteer drivers provided 25,478 charitable trips over 876,509 miles in Jefferson, Lewis, and St. Lawrence Counties. Of those miles, 318,320 helped those in Jefferson County, 112,852 in Lewis County, and 445,337 in St. Lawrence County. That equated to approximately $438,255 in mileage reimbursement for our volunteers. That’s why the community’s help is so important.
The staff, boards of directors and volunteer drivers look forward to a time when transportation to community activities and services is accessible to all North Country residents regardless of economic or specialized needs. But for now the mission drives on — striving to provide transportation to health, wellness and critical needs destinations utilizing volunteers and mobility management for anyone who has barriers to transportation.
For more information about how you can help the Volunteer Transportation Center, about its upcoming events, or to become a volunteer driver, contact the agency in Jefferson and Lewis Counties at 315-788-0422, in St. Lawrence County at 315-714-2034, or Western New York at 585-250-5030. Volunteers drive their own cars, set their own hours and receive mileage reimbursement but, more importantly, make a difference in the community. To learn more, visit www.volunteertransportationcenter.org.
SHOOTIN' TRAP FOR TRIPS.JPG
The Carthage Rod and Gun Club hosted the 13th annual Shootin’ Trap for Trips on July 19 to benefit the Volunteer Transportation Center Foundation. The event saw 110 participants, raising more than $5,400 to benefit transportation of clients in Jefferson and Lewis Counties.
SHOOTIN' TRAP FOR TRIPS SHOOTERS.JPG
The Carthage Rod and Gun Club hosted the 13th annual Shootin’ Traps for Trips on July 19 to benefit the Volunteer Transportation Center Foundation.
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Volunteers at this year’s Shootin’ Trap for Trips pose for a photo at this year’s event at the Carthage Rod and Gun Club. Pictured, from left, are Amy Beauford, Kim Kern, Xavier Gooch, Jeremiah Papineau, Ruth Soules, Julia Purington and Sam Purington.
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Volunteers at this year’s Shootin’ Trap for Trips pose for a photo at this year’s event at the Carthage Rod and Gun Club. Pictured, from left, are Jennifer McFall, Billie Brown and Nettie Mothersell.
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Declan McFall won the Top Gun prize with a perfect score of 50. He is seen here with Volunteer Transportation Center Executive Director Sam Purington.
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Eric Jewett of the Sackets Harbor Sportsman Club took first place in the A Class with a score of 49. He is seen here with Volunteer Transportation Center Executive Director Sam Purington.
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Duane Hoch of the Harrisville Rod & Gun Club took second place in the A Class with a score of 49. He is seen here with Volunteer Transportation Center Executive Director Sam Purington.
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Mike Vaadi II of the Brownville Fish & Game Club took first place in the AA Class with a score of 50. He is seen here with Volunteer Transportation Center Executive Director Sam Purington.
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Joel Dindl of the Sno Fun Hunting Preserve in Evans Mills took first place in the B Class with a score of 49. He is seen here with Volunteer Transportation Center Executive Director Sam Purington.
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Peyton Amato of the Sno Fun Hunting Preserve in Evans Mills took second place in the B Class with a score of 48. He is seen here with Volunteer Transportation Center Executive Director Sam Purington.
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Dean Briot of the Glen-Greig Fish & Game Club took first place in the C Class with a score of 46. He is seen here with Volunteer Transportation Center Executive Director Sam Purington.
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Valda Arndt of the Carthage Rod and Gun Club took second place in the C Class with a score of 44. She is seen here with Volunteer Transportation Center Executive Director Sam Purington.
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Emmy Dindl of the Sno Fun Hunting Preserve in Evans Mills took first place in the D Class with a score of 35. She is seen here with Volunteer Transportation Center Executive Director Sam Purington.
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Brayden Dindl of the Sno Fun Hunting Preserve in Evans Mills took first place in the Junior Class with a score of 49. He is seen here with Volunteer Transportation Center Executive Director Sam Purington.
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Charley Jackson of the Sno Fun Hunting Preserve in Evans Mills took first place in the Ladies Class with a score of 46. She is seen here with Volunteer Transportation Center Executive Director Sam Purington.
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Sherri Obey of the Lyme Rod and Gun Club took second place in the Ladies Class with a score of 45. She is seen here with Volunteer Transportation Center Executive Director Sam Purington.
SHOOTIN' TRAP FOR TRIPS - VETERAN CLASS - SECOND.JPG
John Bach of the Carthage Rod and Gun Club, left, and Bob Green of the Sackets Harbor Sportsman Club, center, tied for second place in the Veteran Class with a score of 46. Both are seen here with Volunteer Transportation Center Executive Director Sam Purington.
