flo.rankin@gaflnews.com



TIFTON – The Tifton Police Department and the Georgia Department of Natural Resources will celebrate National Hunting and Fishing Day Saturday with a free fishing rodeo at Paradise Fishing Area.

Police Chief Jim Smith said Wednesday that the third annual rodeo is an extension of the department’s community involvement program. The fishing area will open three lakes stocked with catfish, bream and bass for children and one for adults.

“It really is a big event,” said Smith. “In the last couple of years, we’ve had between 500 and 1,000 people from all over South Georgia turn out for it. It’s turned out to be one of the better community involvement activities we do. We get really involved in talking to people and helping the children fish.”

The police department will serve hot dogs and drinks, and door prizes will be given away.

“We’d love for everybody to come out, spend time with their families and fish,” said Lt. Steve Hyman of the TPD.

“All they need to do is bring a pole. We’ll have bait, and we have some really nice prizes, donated and purchased.”

Other sponsors for the rodeo include Wal-Mart, Ham’s Pawn and Gun, Winn Dixie, PeachCreek, Holiday Inn of Tifton, Buford Bait Co., Flowers Baking Co. and the TPD Honor Guard.

Rodeo hours will be from 7:30 to 11:30 a.m. To drive to Paradise Fishing Area from Tifton, take U.S. Highway 82 East to Brookfield and turn right at the Brookfield General Store. Follow the signs.



To contact city editor Florence Rankin, call 382-4321, ext. 209.