FRANKLIN
The seventh annual Christopher D. Ray Memorial Scholarship fishing tournament launches this Saturday, June 18, at the Hercules Boat Ramp on the Nottoway River. People interested getting in on the event still have time to preregister, and can even sign up the day of the event. Contact Esther Francis at 653-8342 or John Barksdale at 653-8341.

The competition is named for Ray, a Southampton County Sheriff’s Deputy who died in the line of duty during an accident on Aug. 29, 2009.

He had been responding to a house call in the early hours of that date when his vehicle hit a fallen tree.

Ray was known to be an enthusiastic fisherman, and had reportedly earned a fishing citation the night before his death.

With the family’s blessing, John Barksdale organized the tournament and scholarship in his friend’s name.

To qualify for the $1,000, a qualifying high school or college senior must plan to or be enrolled in courses for a career in public safety; that can include criminal justice, fire science and paramedic/emergency medicine.

Registration starts at 6 a.m., and the entry fee is $30 per person, which also includes a T-shirt. Trophies will be presented to those fishermen who capture big fish, such as bass, bowfin, gar and sunfish.