Monticello — Defensive Action Against Drugs and the Wayne County Bass Club in

cooperation with numerous other businesses, individuals and agencies hosted

the 5th annual Hooked on Fishing Not on Drugs Kids Fishing Derby on the

first Saturday in June at the Cave Lake Event Park on the Nick Cooley

property.

Rick Kempton is the organizer and coordinator for the annual event.

Kempton reported "We were afraid we were going to run out of door prizes

with almost 100 more kids in attendance than last year."

The Kids Fishing Derby is an effort by all sponsors to show kids and

families that there are alternate drug-free activities that all people can

participate in. Adults at the event received information from Defensive

Action Against Drugs and Operation UNITE on how to help kids grow up drug

free and other information on how to be part of the solution in the war on

drugs.

The annual event, which began five years ago with 125 kids enjoying the

activities has grown to 290 kids this year. Age groups included ages 1-5

(with help from parents), ages 6-10 (with limited help by parents) and ages

11-15 (with no help from parents). Individuals with largest fish and top

three with the most weight in fish in each age group won trophies.

There was also a casting competition (on dry land) with a winner from

each age group. Each kid that participated received a door prize ranging

from rods and reels to fishing tackle, backpacks and other sporting goods.

Each kid also got to fill a bag with free goodies such as age appropriate

DVDs, candy and other prizes.

In addition to free fishing the kids and their parents and guardians

that brought them to the event were fed free of charge with school food

program feeding the school age participants and Southeast Telephone from

Pikeville cooking all of the hotdogs and providing 500 hotdogs and buns.

S.E. Telephone provides the free hot dogs and other services to agencies

throughout this region and in eastern Kentucky.

Total attendance at the event was estimated at more than 600 kids and

adults.

This event is held on the first Saturday in June because this is a free

fishing day when a fishing license is not needed in Kentucky to fish on this

day. Despite the fact the annual Catch a Rainbow event is held at Wolf Creek

Dam on the same day as the Kids Fishing Derby in Wayne County the local

event has continued to grow.

Planning for the 2010 event has already begun including the possibility

of an adult fishing division in the afternoon. Kempton said "We are planning

for 350 kids participating next year." He also said, "We even have a family

that comes from Chicago to the Lake Cumberland area just for this event each

of the past two years and will continue to do so."



For more information on how you can help with the 2010 Kids Fishing

Derby call Rick Kempton at 307-7401 or Ray Vater at 307-5169.

Anything you can do to help with youth drug-free activities will be an

investment in your community.