Fund Raising Event for Adain County Reserve Deputies

[T-Baggin98]

Hey guys and gals! This is still in the planning stages but I wanted to go ahead and get it out there so people can semi plan for it if theyre interested. The date isnt in stone yet but will take place sometime in september. This will be the First Annual County Adventure! This will be a great time for everyone. If things go as well as planned we also hope to be able to provide funding to all reserves including Fire and EMS.

The Adair County Reserve Deputy Support Coalition (ACRDSC) was created to raise financial and community support for the men and women who voluntarily serve in the Reserve Deputy Sheriff Unit of the Adair County Sheriff’s Department.

The idea of forming such a coalition came about while Sheriff David Hardin was campaigning for office this past year. It was brought to light that all Reserve Deputies are financially responsible for their own required training, securing their own protective gear, ammunition, weapons, and even the funding of repairs and maintenance to their assigned county vehicles. Not only are these men and women volunteering their time to serve the law enforcement needs of the county, they’re taking money out of their personal accounts to do so. These individuals put their lives on the line for the citizens of Adair County in the same manner a paid full-time deputy does. The only difference between a Deputy Sheriff and a Reserve Deputy Sheriff is the Reserves are paying to serve instead of being paid to serve.

The Adair County Sheriff’s Department is heavily dependant upon its Reserve Deputy Unit in order to provide sufficient law enforcement coverage throughout the entire county. Due to a limited and tight budget, The Sheriff’s Department is not able to employee enough full-time paid deputies to effectively patrol the entire county. The men and women who serve in the Reserve Sheriff’s Deputy Unit provide an invaluable service not only to the Sheriff’s Department, but to every person living in the county. The Sheriff’s Department’s budget is not sufficient enough to provide repairs and maintenance to the county assigned Reserve Deputy vehicles, nor does it have the funds to pay for the required training or extra ammunition, fire arms, or protective gear needed for the volunteer reserves.

In order to raise the money needed to assist the volunteer reserve deputies, ACRDSC will begin hosting an annual fundraising event that has been dubbed, “The County Adventure. The County Adventure will be a “win-win” for everyone because it will not only assist the Reserve Deputies, but bring national attention to Adair County’s natural resources and environmental beauty, as well as provide revenue for county businesses.

The event will be open to all runners, hunters, and equestrian enthusiasts nationwide.
The County Adventure will be an annual, one day event in early fall that will consist of three separate and distinct venues throughout Adair County: The River Adventure, The Sportsman Adventure, and The Western Adventure. The River Adventure is geared toward running enthusiasts. A proposed 25-mile route along the Illinois from Highway 412 to Baron Fork Creek Bridge is already in the planning stages. The Sportsman Adventure will be geared toward fire arms enthusiasts and hunters and will consist of several fire arms competitions and turkey shoots somewhere around the Stilwell area. The Western Adventure will be sponsored by The American Competitive Trail Horse Association and is geared toward all the horse lovers and trail riders. This event will be a competitive trail ride and challenge course competition down at CC Camp in the Bell area. The day will conclude with a country-wide hamburger/hot dog dinner at one of the County Parks where winners of the three Adventures will be announced and prizes awarded. There will also be auctions, fun and games for kids, and various other evening activities for families to participate in.

The County Adventure event is quite an undertaking and the seven members of the ACRDSC Board cannot do this alone. The Coalition is in great need of volunteers, especially those who have strong leadership and organizational skills, to help make this organization and its first annual event successful. Please consider joining the ACRDSC and help us help those who serve the county for free. Membership is free. If you are interested in becoming a volunteer for ACRDSC, please contact Lorri Hardin at 918-696-6088 or Brian Sitsler at 918-696-2132, or any of the above-referenced Board Members.

Their mission is simple - ACRDSC wants the whole county to know that heroes do walk among us, and some serve for free.

 

[T-Baggin98]

Here is a little more detail on the events taking place. Ill post more later when the details are worked out including registration fees.
Fund-Raising Event: The County Adventure

The River Adventure: A Triathlon/Marathon along the Illinois River from River Ranch Road Baron Fork Creek Bridge at Hwy 59. Participates will run an approximate 25 mile prepared course along the Illinois River. The track will be set up and approved by Friends of the Illinois River; Scenic River Commission; and Oklahoma Conservation Commission. Those volunteering for this event will be asked to assist in track preparation, work various water and check-in stations, verifying all runners are pre-registered and have signed proper waiver forms, assist with possible transport of runners not able to finish the course, contacting sponsors and collecting donated prizes, and clean-up.

The Sportsman’s Adventure: Competitive fire arms and bow shoot competition (location to be announced at later date) consisting of various weapons and firearms competition. The Adair County Sheriff’s Office, OSU Cooperative Extension; Department of Wildlife; and Department of Forestry will set up and approve all firearms and targets. Volunteers for this Adventure will be asked to assist in the set-up and clean up of area, verifying contestants are pre-registered and have proper waiver forms, work various booths at competition, assist with contacting sponsors and collecting donated prizes.

The Western Adventure: A six-mile competitive challenge course for horse and rider at CC Camp, near Bell. The American Competitive Trail Horse Association will set up and approve all challenges, and well as provide liability insurance for the event. All horses will be required to show negative coggins and appropriate health papers. There will be 8 judges, one for each competition. If you’re interested in being a judge for this event, please specify on enrollment sheet. Volunteers will be asked to help set up challenge course, work various booths as event, work check-in stations along trail, assist with contacting possible sponsors and collecting donated prizes, assist with clean up.

County-Wide Cookout: A hamburger/hot dog dinner to be held at one of the parks in Stilwell. All residents of Adair County will be invited to attend, as well as all participates in the above-referenced Adventure Events. Winners of the three Adventure competitions will be announced and prizes awarded. There will be a silent auction of donated items; a Reserve Deputy Auction; and games and activities for the kids. Volunteers for this event will be asked to help set up booths, prepare and serve food, assist with various evening activities and games, clean-up, securing donated food and drink items.

All Adventure events will require pre-registration, and a signed/dated hold harmless agreement.

All money raised goes to purchase necessary items for the volunteer deputy reserve unit, to include: protective vests; ammunition; training; assigned county vehicle repairs and maintenance; uniforms; and other equipment as deemed necessary by the Sheriff and Reserve Unit Captain.


If anyone would like to volunteer or has any ideas on how to improve this, please feel free to let me know. All opinions and comments are appreciated! Thanks!

 

[T-Baggin98]

Also, if anyone would be interested in being a sponsor let me know. Any help is greatly appreciated. This is going to be a fun day, I hope to see some of you there!

 

[shorton]

I work at a pipeline coating company in Catoosa. The vise president of the company and his son both are from the Adair area. This sounds like a great cause,and a great time. I am in currently in Lima Peru but will be returning tomorrow. We are owned by a larger out of state corporation, but I can definitely ask about a sponsorship of some sort. No promises, but it can't hurt to ask.

 

[T-Baggin98]

Sounds great Shorton, thanks!

The BIG County Adventure (marathon along the Illinois River, firearms competition on Baron Fork Creek, competitive trail ride at CC Camp in Bell) will be Saturday, September 28, 2013. I do not have start times for these events yet but everything will start mid morning some time. The competitive trail ride will probably start around 10 a.m. but since ACTHA(American Competitive Trail Horse Assn.) is sponsoring this event for us, all riders will have to go online to ACTHA to register, and we can only have 100 riders. We're hosting a big county-wide benefit cookout after all three events close so everyone will have to be done with their events prior to that. Our next Board meeting is March 15, so hopefully we can get more details ironed out then. Thanks in advance for your help guys!!