Bass tournament raising money for Area 29 Special Olympics
Published 11:11 am Tuesday, July 12, 2016
FRANKLIN
Of course fish are important to members of the Three Rivers Bass Tournament Series, but so are community and service. That’s why the club will again host the Area 29 Special Olympics Bass Fishing Tournament this Saturday, July 16, at the Franklin boat launch.
Last year’s first-place winners, from left, were Billy Daniels, Jordan Jarrett, Ian Wolfe, both Special Olympic athletes, and Brent Boney.
The event is not limited to members of the TRBT; in fact, the public is being encouraged to participate. The entry fee is $40 per boat or $50 for boat sponsors, and all of the money will be dedicated to support the Area 29 athletes.
Mike Wise, a club member, explained the group’s involvement.
“I was with the Three Rivers Bass Tournament and we were looking for something to do. Pat Smith, a parent of one of the athletes, was wanting us to do a fundraiser,” Wise said, and added that he knew Smith from when they and some other fishermen worked together at International Paper. “They [other members] assigned me to make it happen. We’re growing every year.”
Smith later confirmed the connection and need.
“We kind of found a merger,” she said of how the club and the Area 29 group came together. “And we were looking for help. Ours runs on donations to cover the costs to take us to games [such as the recent state level event]: travel, hotels, meals and things like that.”
The national games, which include golf, is scheduled for this September in Port Lucie, Florida, she said.
Some of the Area 29 athletes, such as Ethan Smith, will be attending the Saturday program. His mother said he will likely again be helping launch the boats on Saturday and weighing in the catch of the day.
Adding to the day’s fun from 1 to 5 p.m. will be a free performance by Louis Waymore, a band from North Carolina. According to Wise, his nephew and band member Phil, got his start learning how to play the guitar from his grandfather, Louis Wise of Franklin. That show will be at nearby Barrett’s Landing.
Wise said prizes and drawings will be included.
He encourages families to attend and bring picnics, lawn chairs and blankets; beverages will be provided.
For more information, visit the TRBT Facebook page, or email trbtseriesnews@gmail.com.
