By Sean Bailey / Staff Writer
Running, and even walking, isn’t the first thing that comes to mind when one thinks about Thanksgiving Day. Mounds of turkey, dressing and pumpkin pie, maybe... but running?
But, come this Thursday, the streets of downtown Williamsburg will be filled with runners and walkers. They’ll be running for a good cause — the second annual Williamsburg Turkey Trot, which raises money for the Williamsburg Police Department’s Shop with a Cop program.
Angie Bowling, Williamsburg’s domestic violence victim’s advocate, was one of the committee members who organized this year’s event. She said the run is the brainchild of Mayor Roddy Harrison. The 5K (which is a little more than three miles) will close down Main and Third streets on Thursday.
“Last year was our first year, and we’ve got it a whole lot more organized this year,” Bowling said. “People can register up until the race at 9 a.m. ... First place winners in age divisions will receive turkey trophies and medals. We have a homemade pie for the winners.”
Bowling said the event has been organized and funded by volunteers, and 100 percent of the event’s proceeds will go toward the Shop with a Cop program.
The Shop with a Cop program provides Christmas presents for children whose families might not be able to afford them. The kids, who are registered for the program at their schools’ family resource centers, get a certain amount of money to choose whatever presents they want on a day in December.
Bowling said the program helped 150 kids last year, and she hopes to serve at least that many this year. The program serves more children by limiting any one student’s participation to one Christmas every two years, Bowling said.
Williamsburg police officers help kids with the shopping, by reaching up to high shelves, keeping track of the money and carrying the presents to the kids’ parents.
“And the guys love it almost as much as the kids,” Bowling said of the Williamsburg police who help with the program.
Williamsburg Police Public Affairs Officer Shawn Jackson says the Shop with a Cop Day in December always brightens the season.
“Nothing in the world is like seeing a smile on a 4-year-old’s face,” Jackson said. “It just lights up the whole holiday.”
You can still register to run in the Turkey Trot by showing up before the 9 a.m. start time on Thanksgiving. Entry fee is $20. Registration begins at 8 a.m. For more information, call Tracy Croley at (606) 549-7025.
Local News
Shop with a Cop turkey trot
- Local News
-
-
Police search for suspect in highway beating
It was called by some as “road rage,” but Barbourville Police say last Saturday evening’s fight at a city intersection was definitely an assault. And they are still looking for the man who police say threw the first punch.
-
Woman gets five years for drugs
In U.S. Federal Court Wednesday, Heather A. Collins, who was called by Judge Gregory F. Van Tatenhove as a “kind of leader for the group,” was sentenced to five years after using prescription forms to acquire various drugs.
-
Father, son rearraigned for meth charges
A son and father were rearraigned Wednesday afternoon in U.S. District Court in London.
-
Hounds hold on
Corbin Coach Rob Ledington rolled the dice after his Redhounds took a 6-0 lead, but it paid off with an 8-7 win over Whitley County as Corbin advanced to the 50th District Championship tonight with an ace up their sleeve.
-
Drugs suspected in fatal Knox County crash
Drug use may have been a factor in a crash Monday in Knox County in which an 11-year-old boy was killed, according to Kentucky State Police Post-10 Harlan Public Affairs Officer Trooper Shane Jacobs and Sgt. Jimmy Young.
-
Marie Rader wins 89th Rep. District Primary
Republican Marie Rader won the primary election for the 89th District House of Representatives.
-
Barton wins another circuit court clerk term
Whitley County voters went with experience when it came to electing the next circuit court clerk, choosing incumbent Gary Barton, according to unofficial election results.
-
Bunch victor in 82nd House District
For incumbent State Representative Regina Petrey Bunch, the votes came in bunches Tuesday night.
-
Voter turnout higher than expected
The election day ran fairly smooth in Whitley, with the exception of several precincts losing power briefly and a few complaints regarding signs being too close to polling places.
-
Kenneth S. Stepp to face Hal Rogers in fall
Two Democrats, Kenneth S. Stepp, of Clay County, and Micheal Ackerman, of Rowan County, running for the Fifth Congressional District ran a heads-together race in the 30-county district.
- More Local News Headlines
-
Police search for suspect in highway beating




