Half Pint Brawlers coming to Bourbon County

A local fundraising event will be getting some help from small wrestlers from the small screen.

The 2010 Badge Bash for Christmas Cash, hosted by the Southeast Kansas Regional Correctional Center staff, will be featuring a new addition -- the Half Pint Brawlers. The HPB is a group of self-proclaimed hardcore little person wrestlers who star in their own television show on Spike TV. Event organizer Jimmy Nichols said that by bringing in the HPB he hopes more people will attend the event, which raises money to help local families during Christmas.

"We wanted to bring them in as an attempt to add a new twist to our already existing event and also to attempt to raise a little more money to help a few more families this Christmas," Nichols said.

The event is scheduled for Sept. 18, with an Olympic-style competition between area law enforcement agencies beginning at 1 p.m., at the football field at Uniontown High School, 601 Fifth St. in Uniontown, Kan., followed by the annual boxing event, at 6 p.m. in the Uniontown High School gym, which will include wrestling matches by HPB.

Because the HPB television show began last month, Nichols said he thought it would be easier to get them to come to the event, rather than a group that has been established for a while, such as the Ultimate Fighting Championship.

Now in its third year, the Bridge Bash has seen a surprising increase in advance ticket sales so far. Nichols said that he knew the group was popular; nevertheless, he has been surprised by the ticket sales.

"We knew they were popular, but now as we've started selling tickets we are finding out how popular they are," he said. "This is the first year we have sold this many tickets in advance."

Tickets are on sale for $15. Nichols said that correctional center staff will be set up at area businesses to sell tickets as well as going door-to-door. In addition, anyone wanting to purchase tickets can stop by the SEKRCC at 204 S. National Ave., in Fort Scott, Kan.

Nichols said that the Galena Police Department, Bourbon County Fire District No. 3, and law enforcement from Cherokee County have already committed to participating in the event. He added that he hopes the Fort Scott Police Department will be able to get a team together for the Olympic competition.

"People are definitely going to get their money's worth," Nichols said.