Wearing a monogrammed chef's hat and an apron stating "The Heat is On," Ray "Doc" Payne turned up the heat on a pancake grill and made sure the batter was not too thick for the hundreds of people sampling his work.

Payne has been doing this for the past 25 to 26 years.

Between 7 a.m. and 1 p.m. Saturday, the Ironton Rotary Club served its yearly pancake dinner at the AEP building with club members acting as wait staff and cooks. President Rod Depriest said the club had served 450 meals shortly before noon and estimated the club would serve 600 before closing.

"We've been super busy, and this is one of our better turnouts," he said. "This is kind of a get-together for people in the community, and it gathers in old acquaintances. People really look forward to it. This is our top fund-raiser that will service all of our projects."

The money generated will fund two nursing scholarships, United Way and the City Welfare Mission, among others. Depriest estimated the club has been preparing the pancakes, along with sausage and coffee, between 35 to 40 years.

"We don't hoard money," Payne said. "We pay our bills, then we give it away."

"These are the best pancakes in town, no question about it," Ed Rambacher, club member, said. "This is a fine group of people to work with."

Instead of watching Saturday morning cartoons, 8-year-old Jason Langdon of Ironton spent the morning eating the pancakes.

"It's good," he said, commenting that he would rather be eating the pancakes than watching cartoons.

"We came out to support all the groups," Landgon's aunt and Ironton resident Cindy Lowe said. "They need all they can get in this town."

"This is the nicest bunch of guys you could ever work with," Payne said. "I've been doing this for years and years and years. I think I might retire soon."

"No, he's not," Depriest said.