Missouri TBF Offical
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Forsyth Bass Club
Hosts
8th Annual Do Fishing Not Drugs Kids Tournament
Saturday May 5th about 70 local children and many parents gathered at Jerry Pagan’s pond, for the annual tournament hosted by the Forsyth Bass Club and Lake Taneycomo Elks Lodge. Around 9:00 on this beautiful morning the children were excited to get the poles and bait that the Bass Club furnished and go to fishing. There were lots of smiles and laughter as the children caught a bunch of fish and even a turtle or two. Not sure if the kids or the parents and the guys helping out had more fun. At 11:30 hot dogs, hamburgers and all the fixings prepared by Lodge members were ready for all to enjoy.
After four volunteers cleaned up the area around the pond to teach the kids to leave things cleaner than they find them, they lined up for the prizes. But first they were reminded of the theme of the tournament and told if they ever thought of doing drugs to give the Lodge or the Bass Club a call and we’d be glad to take them fishing. By coincidence a gentlemen then ask if he might speak with them. He made a very moving testament. “Telling them he was 52 years old and very ill. In fact had been close to death and it was all because of his abuse of drugs. He pleaded to a very quite audience to not follow in his footsteps. Trophies and prize packages of fishing lures, information from the Conservation Department, literature about saying no to drugs from the Lodge and T-shirts from Bass Pro were then passed out to each child.
A very special thanks to the following who helped make this project a great time for all (not just the kids) involved. Jerry Pagan, for use of his pond. The Missouri Conservation Department for stocking the pond. White River Electric for the trophies. First Community and U.S. Bank for savings bond. Bass Pro Shops for T-shirts. Save A Lot grocery for potato chips. Rhienhart’s packing for the hot dogs, Strike King Lure Co. for fishing lures.
