Torch Run benefits Special Olympics

By Lynn A. Wade

Nevada Daily Mail

Monday, at 8 a.m., there'll be traffic of a different sort on Austin and along a course around the Square in Nevada. It's the 20th anniversary Law Enforcement Torch Run for Special Olympics.

Nevada police officers will be joining officers from around the state in the Torch Run, which begins May 23. Throughout the state of Missouri, more than 900 runners from 100 agencies will participate on 34 different routes, covering 950 miles across Missouri -- carrying an Olympic-style torch with them.

The Torch Run is meant to raise awareness of the Special Olympics Missouri 2005 State Summer Games in Columbia, May 25-27. Thirty athletes from Vernon County will be competing in the state event, and officers want to do whatever they can to support the efforts of those athletes, said Lt. Pat McCarty of the Nevada Police Department.

"We are looking forward to doing it," McCarty said of the run, adding words of appreciation to Nevada Police Chief Christine Keim, who helped coordinate the run in Nevada.

Officer Ballenger will begin the run, passing the torch to other officers along the route, beginning at College and Austin, along Austin to Main, all six officers will band together for a run around the Square before a single officer heads south on Cedar to Austin, finishing at Osage Blvd.

Officers George Enke, Mike Ballenger, Pat McCarty, D. W. Osborn, Steve Gayman and Jimmy Dye will participate in the run. Afterwards, the torch will be delivered to the Lamar Police Department, whose officers will complete another leg of the run.

In addition to the run itself, law enforcement officers have been participating in fund-raising through the sales of T-shirts and other items.

So far, the Nevada Police Department has raised $622 for Special Olympics. Missouri State Highway Patrol troopers have also raised funds and have secured matching grants from area businesses, including 3M.

The fund-raising is also important, McCarty said, because "there's no cost at all to the participants. All the transportation, food -- everything is paid for. And that ain't free."

Through corporate sponsors like Shop'n Save, CARQUEST and others, along with the donations from businesses and individuals in fund-raisers conducted through law enforcement groups, the statewide event is made possible.

Donations to Special Olympics can still be made at the Nevada Police Department, 120 S. Ash.

For more information about the Special Olympics games, visit the group's Web site at www.somo.org.

Daily Mail reporter Steve Moyer contributed to this story.