Fishing in memory

About 55 kids and their families camped out a spot on the Veterans Park lake shore Saturday to go shoot for a record in the eighth annual Alan Leake Memorial Kids Fishing Tournament Saturday.
About 55 kids and their families camped out a spot on the Veterans Park lake shore Saturday to go shoot for a record in the eighth annual Alan Leake Memorial Kids Fishing Tournament Saturday.

The Fulton Parks and Recreation department stocked Veterans Park Lake with plenty of bluegill hybrids and catfish Friday night, and by Saturday morning they were biting in full force for the eighth annual Capt. Alan Leake Memorial Kids Fishing Tournament.

Children and their families lined the lake 10 a.m. to noon, and the park was filled with excitement as kids rushed to weigh stations around the lake to find out how big of a lunker they'd landed and laughter as they splashed back into the water after release. Children competed for prize packages including a trophy, pole and cooler to see who could catch the most fish or the biggest prize.

Retired Auxvasse firefighter Bob Mischnick started the contest in memory of his good friend, Fulton Fire Department Capt. Alan Leake, who was fatally injured while working a motor vehicle accident in 2006 just one year before retirement.

"Alan loved kids and fishing, so I was trying to find a way to keep his memory alive," Mischnick said as he grilled hot dogs lakeside for participants. "Alan and I were friends for 26 years at the time of his death, he was like a little brother to me. I have a seven-acre lake and we spent countless hours out there. Alan loved to fish."

To help the tornado-stricken people of Dumas and surroundings, donations can be made to the Delta Area Disaster Relief Fund, care of the Delta Area Community Foundation, P.O. Box 894, Dumas, AR, 71639, or through the Arkansas Community Foundation, 700 S. Rock St., Little Rock, AR, 72202.