NWTF hosts fifth annual JAKES Day
<span>The Randolph County Cutters and Strutters Chapter of the National Wild Turkey Federation hosted its 5th Annual JAKES Day on Saturday, July 25, at the World Shooting and Recreational Complex in Sparta.</span>
<span>Upon registering, each youth participant received a custom-designed JAKES T-Shirt. As last year, there was no registration fee. </span>
At the end of the day's activities, all participants had the opportunity to win a variety of prizes.
<span>The $10 fee per youth is paid by the Illinois State Chapter of the NWTF. The event was attended by 76 youth and 53 adults.</span>
<span>JAKES Day is designed to let the youth have fun participating in hands-on outdoor activities.</span>
<span>This year, the activities included archery shooting at bullseye targets, shotgun clay bird shooting, air rifle shooting at 2 ¼" clay targets and metal spinners, gun safety/handling instructions, shotgun patterning and T-shirt shooting. </span>
<span>Upon completion of the activity stations, the youth and adults were treated to a demonstration by the Sparta K9 Unit.</span>
<span>The lead handler, Ralph Jones, a Sparta Police K9 officer, introduced his partner, Spartacus, a Czechoslovakian-born and trained charcoal black German Shepard.</span>
<span>Ralph also introduced Sparta Police K9 officer Dane Patterson, who unfortunately was on the receiving end of various types of apprehensions or take-downs by Spartacus.</span>
<span>Jones mentioned that he had to learn Czech to give Spartacus training commands. The demonstration was very interesting and educational.</span>
<span>In appreciation, the Randolph County Cutters and Strutters chapter made a donation of $150 to the City of Sparta K9 Fund.</span>
<span>Again this year, RCCS collected canned food items to help replenish the supplies for the Red Bud Human Service Center in Red Bud.</span>
<span>For every canned or packaged item a youth brought, he/she was given a ticket for a shotgun drawing. There were 692 canned food items collected and $90 in cash.</span>
<span>The chapter's appreciation goes out to those committee members that helped make JAKES Day a success.</span>
<span>The RCCS acknowledges all the parents for taking time out of their busy schedules to bring their daughters/sons to JAKES Day.</span>
<span>The RCCS also acknowledges Dennis Sneed, WSRC Sporting Clays manager and his staff for their great efforts in setting up the area for JAKES Day.</span>
A special recognition and gratitude to the event sponsors:
<span>Ameren, Casey's General Store of Red Bud; DeRousse E-Z Storage of Red Bud, First National Bank of Dieterich in Red Bud; North County Savings Bank of Red Bud; Red Bud Industries; Rozier's Country Market of Chester; Walker Country Insurance of Red Bud; Buena Vista National Bank of Chester; Ultra Play, Inc. of Red Bud; Red Bud IGA; Buchheit of Sparta; Edward J. Fischer Law Office of Chester; Frito Lay of Red Bud; Eric Buettner Audio of Columbia; Part Time Guns and Ammo of Red Bud and Zanders Sporting Goods of Sparta.</span>