Black eyes for a better Christmas

By Rayma Silvers

The Fort Scott Tribune

Employees of the Bourbon County Sheriff's Department and the Southeast Kansas Regional Correctional Facility are entering the Christmas shopping season swinging.

Although Christmas is still several months away, the BBSD and BBCRCF are taking an early jab at the holiday. At 6 p.m. on Saturday, August 16, at the National Guard Armory, 2301 S. Horton, area residents are invited to a one of a kind boxing event. The night, which will consist of about three hours of ring side action, will enable the two county agencies to raise money for their Christmas Toy Drive.

According to SEKRCC Director of Programs Jimmy Nichols, both the sheriff's department and the correctional facility have worked together to provide Christmas for one family each year for the last three years. This year, Nichols said, the two local departments plan to adopt more than one family at Christmas time. The boxing event will help make this possible, Nichols said.

Nichols said members of the Bronson Police Department and the Cherokee County Police Department will join about ten members of the correctional facility in the ring in separate matches. The boxer who has won the most fights at the end of the night will be declared the winner, Nichols said.

Event attendees will have access to a small concession stand while enjoying the boxing fundraiser, according to Nichols.

Anyone wishing attend the Christmas toy drive boxing event should purchase tickets at the correctional center, 204 S. National, or at the door the night of the event. The tickets are $10 a piece, Nichols said.

In addition to the evening events at the armory, Nichols said area residents can witness several events earlier in the day free of charge. Beginning at 3 p.m. on Saturday, the Bourbon County departments and the Cherokee County employees will be competing in various events at Gunn Park, 1010 Park. The two teams will go head to head in tug-of-war, an obstacle course, a paddle boat race and a relay, according to Nichols.

In June, the Bourbon County Sheriff's office conducted a bench press powerlifting contest in Uniontown, which was also used as a fundraising event for the Christmas toy drive. With the two events, Nichols said the Bourbon County departments will be able to expand their Christmas cheer this year, giving to more children than they have been able to in the past.