By MIKE COURSON
Great Bend Post
It's not uncommon for a fisherman to catch his own lunch while out on the pond. That will not be necessary for the Cast with a Cop event scheduled for Aug. 12 at Veterans Park in Great Bend. The city of Great Bend will provide the cops, and Walmart will provide a free lunch to participants.
"We just thought it would be a good way to interact with some of our youth in a non-enforcement type of environment," said GBPD Chief Steve Haulmark. "People like to fish. We have cops that enjoy it, and others in the community. We thought maybe we could open that up to kids maybe who don't fish and introduce that to them as well."
The event is limited to the first 30 kids between the ages of 8 and 14 years of age. Registration is free at the Great Bend Police Department during business hours Monday through Friday.
The only tool required for the event is a positive attitude. Walmart will provide the lunch, the city will provide various prizes, and the Kansas Department of Wildlife and Parks will provide the gear.
"They're loaning us the rods and reels and some different tackle," said Haulmark. "We were trying to figure out that piece of it, but that worked out really well having that partnership."
Cast with a Cop will take place on Friday, Aug. 12 from 8 a.m. to noon, on the south side of Veterans Lake.