Set up began Monday in the Minden Civic Center for the yearly Minden Auction Benefiting St. Jude. This year, the event has two themes: “Stay Golden – Celebrating 50 Auctions” and “Thank You for Being a Friend.” After all, an auction that has steadily gained in money collected every year for 30 straight years deserves two themes. According to Laura Hollingsworth and Melissa Brown, co-chairpersons of the auction, this year has to be even bigger and better with donated raffle items adding up to a half million dollars in value. Mayor Nick Cox purchased the first bags of Texas Roadhouse peanuts from Morris Busby and Melissa Brown.