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PARTICIPANTS IN THE BEECHER POLICE DEPARTMENT'S Bicycle Safety Rodeo, held on Saturday, June 6, prepare to ride through one of the mazes to test their control of their bikes. photo by Terry Gatlin
Beecher Police Department bike safety rodeo  Share
On June 6, Beecher Police Department held its annual bike safety rodeo, another of its efforts to make children aware of the rules for riding bikes and maintaining their safety while doing so. On hand for the event were Lieutenant Rick Emerson, Corporal Bill Little, Officers Roger Sipple, Bob Husum, Carrie Schwartz, Jamie Hawkins, Conrad Sweet and Administrative Assistant Linda Krug. Thirty children came with their parents to register in the event. Each child's bike went through an inspection by a police officer. Each child and bike received a grade in the inspection. After the inspection, the kids lined up to begin the challenges of the course laid out by the officers. Each child was graded on how well he or she performed in each category. The categories were: mount and dismount, circling and direction, straight line control, weaving and maneuvering, stopping ability, short radius turning and slow speed.
Ten points were awarded for each of the eight categories. After the challenges were completed, participants' grades were counted and certificates and ribbons were awarded to the winners in each age category. The age groups were: 10-13, 8-9, 6-7 and 2-5. In age group 10-13: first place went to Jodie Harling; second places went to Tristan Pina, Russel Milan and Brianna Bunte; third place went to Yanni Mitropoulaus; And fourth place went to Taylor Colbert. In age group 8-9: first place went to Mason Pina; second place, to Paul Wieggel; third place, Megan Oppenhuis; and fourth place, to Kate Landis. In age group 6-7: Kyle Thomsen won first place; Margaret Landis, second place; Luke Oppenhuis and Brady Serafin, tied for third place; and Emily Hayhurst won fourth place. In age group 2-5: Mitch Landis and Ryan Pina tied for first place; Madelynne Oppenhuis won second place; Abby Shepard, third place; and Grace Shepard, fourth place. Next, the children and their parents were treated to donuts, juice and milk. Each child received a ticket for the prizes and one for the bike raffle. Two grand prizes were awarded this year. A new girls and a new boys bike were donated by Becker's Automotive and TMW Towing, respectively. In the drawing for the bikes, Christopher Minnick won the boys bike and Dana Young won the girls bike. Terry Gatlin is a reporter for Russell Publications.
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