By MIKE COURSON
Great Bend Post
From the blackest darkness can come the brightest light. That’s how the community of Great Bend is responding after the death of 14-year-old Rubi Paulina Perez on April 8. A candlelight vigil for the eighth grader is planned for tonight, and a large fundraiser is underway to benefit Rubi’s family.
Perez was reported missing just after 8:30 p.m. Wednesday evening. Thursday morning, she was found deceased behind a dirt pile in the 4700 block of 17th Street Terrace, just south of the railroad tracks in Veterans Memorial Park. According to Rubi’s obituary, she was a standout student among her peers and teachers, always spreading positivity to anyone she came across. She was an exceptional athlete that excelled at track, volleyball, and basketball. She loved to do make up and enhance her already stunning natural beauty. Her legacy will live on in her sweet demeanor, smile, zest for life, and offering kindness always.
Thursday evening, Great Bend police reported that a 14-year-old juvenile male had been arrested on a charge of first-degree murder. The Barton County Sheriff’s Office jail log also included a charge of interference with law enforcement.
“The officers who had the initial call did a lot of follow-up that night, and did a lot of good follow-up,” said Great Bend Chief of Police Steve Haulmark, during a Friday-morning appearance on 1590 KVGB/95.5 FM’s “AM Great Bend Show” with Steve Webster. “When she was located, we were able to act on that information pretty quickly.”
A candlelight vigil to remember and honor Rubi is planned for tonight at 8 p.m. near where her body was found on 17th Street Terrace.
A large fundraiser is underway from the Luna family in Great Bend. Owners of DL Window Tint, the Lunas have held several fundraisers in recent years, raising as much as $13,000 for one family. Already, 100 items have been pledged for the raffle, which will be held Friday and Saturday, April 17-18, at DL Window Tint, 1724 22nd Street in Great Bend. One-hundred percent of proceeds will go to Rubi’s family.
“I want the family to know they are not alone during these difficult times, and because I feel so good after I done with one, that my own community steps up and helps,” said Pamela Luna. “I am just the organizer, but I have always said that if it wasn’t for the community, these fundraisers wouldn’t be successful because the community is the one donating all the items and buying tickets. In the end, we all come together in these times.”
Raffle tickets are $5 each or five for $20. Donations will be accepted through Thursday. Raffle tickets will be sold from 5-7 p.m. Friday night, then from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday at DL Window Tint.
“We are hoping to get the whole community to come together for this beautiful, most humble family,” Luna said. “We pray for both sides of the families, but right now our focus is to lay this beautiful girl to rest and give the family some financial support.”
More fundraisers are planned throughout the week in Great Bend. Watch Great Bend Post.com for that information.