Bigs and Littles have fun at pool

Southeast Kansas Regional Correctional Center Director of Security and Jail Administrator Jimmy Nichols (left) and SEKRCC Director of Programs Brad Rich visit with "Bigs" and "Littles" enrolled in the Bourbon County Big Brother Big Sister Program during a Big Brothers Big Sisters pool party Friday. (Rayma Silvers/Tribune photo) [Click to enlarge]

About 30 Big Brothers Big Sisters participants made a splash at the Fort Scott Municipal Swimming Pool on Friday.

Sponsored by a grant received from the Community Foundation of Southeast Kansas, the local Big Brothers Big Sisters organization conducted a pool party for program participants. At 6 p.m., "Bigs" and "Littles" assembled at the top of the bleachers of the swimming pool to visit with the Southeast Kansas Regional Correctional Center Director of Security and Jail Administrator Jimmy Nichols and SEKRCC Director of Programs Brad Rich. Following the demonstration by Nichols and Rich, the group of BBBS participants were treated to pizza and a couple of hours of pool time.

Nichols and Rich talked with the youth about the duties of the Community Emergency Response Team. In addition, the two men showed the BBBS participants some of the equipment the CERT team uses when they have to respond to a situation inside the correctional facility. The youth were given an opportunity to ask Nichols and Rich questions about their job.

According to BBBS Board Chair Reed Hartford, he invited members of the CERT team to talk to the youth in order to help promote a positive relationship between them and law enforcement.

"CERT was there to visit with the kids and to help develop a personal relationship with law enforcement," Hartford said.

Nichols said he enjoys visiting with children from the local community and providing favorable interactions between them and members of law enforcement.

"We're just getting out in the community and letting kids have a positive interaction with a badge of some sort," Nichols said. "We just basically told them a short synopsis of what we do. We want them to know we are always there and always have an open ear. If they need something, a badge is not something to be scared of."

Nichols said he thinks programs like BBBS are extremely important for the youth in the community.

"I think it (BBBS) has a very positive effect," he said. "I think kids need to know they have people pulling for them outside of their family. That they know people are willing to take time out of their day -- out of their schedules -- to spend time with them. I think it is important it comes from the community."

Because the CERT team wants to have a positive effect on the lives of the local youth, Nichols said the team is conducting a softball tournament fundraiser on July 18 at Ellis Park, at the corner of 12th and Shepherd streets, in order to raise enough money to take some of the youth involved in BBBS to a Royals game.

"We thought it would be awesome to take some of these kids who don't have fathers or mothers to a Royals game and just adopt them for a day," he said.

In addition to the pool party, Hartford said the local BBBS usually conducts three similar events during the year. In the fall, BBBS is planning a train ride, which will be open to all BBBS agencies in Southeast Kansas. During a previous train ride conducted a couple of years ago, Hartford said they were able to recruit some local residents to become a "Big" for a day. For the event, local adults volunteered for the day to spend time with youth. One of the current matches had its beginning during the last train ride.

"We take a kid who is not matched and an adult who is not matched and let them spend time together," Hartford said. "On the train ride two years ago, we made a match that just clicked. They have been a match ever since."

For more information about BBBS or to volunteer to become a "Big" to a local youth contact Hartford at (620) 223-3944. For more information about the softball tournament being conducted by the CERT team or to sign a team up to participate, contact Rich at (620) 223-2380.