Big Whiskey’s hosts Priebe Family Giveback Night, sets sales record

By: 
Steve Chapman

Officer Mark Priebe

To help the family of Mark Priebe, the Springfield Police officer who was severely injured when he was ran over by a vehicle during an altercation at the Springfield Police Dep a r t m e n t on June 9, Big Whiskey’s in R e p u b l i c held Priebe F a m i l y G i v e b a c k Night, a fundraiser where proceeds received during the evening earmarked to be donated to the Priebe family, on Wednesday, June 17. James Sameck, the restaurant’s general manager, said it was the busiest evening the restaurant had ever seen.
“We were busier Wednesday night than we were during opening weekend,” he said. “We set three different sales records for an hour between 6 p.m. and 9 p.m. We destroyed sales records that this company has never had before. It was phenomenal.”
 Sameck said Big Whiskey’s held the fundraiser because Priebe is both a police officer and a Republic resident.
“Once I found out that Mark was from Republic,” he said, “I had a couple of guests reach out to me, asking about doing the project, and then we got on board as a company; it was just a no-brainer. We just have an incredible relationship with the Republic Police Department. Even though it’s not the Springfield Police Department, he’s part of our community, so we chose to get all hands-on-board for that.”
Additionally, Sameck said, a group sold decals and stickers out in front of the restaurant to benefit the Priebe family.
“They sold 250 stickers at $20 a pop,” he said. The total of funds raised was not made public.
Sameck said the turnout at Big Whiskey’s showed how the community members of Republic look out for one another.
“I’d like to thank Republic, Missouri, for doing what they’ve always done since we’ve been open; wrapping their arms around the community and wrapping their arms around us as a whole,” he said. “We just love being out here; it’s a phenomenal community … that we’re happy to be part of.”

Category:

Lawrence County Record

312 S. Hickory St.
Mt. Vernon, MO, 65712
www.lawrencecountyrecord.com

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