Hill County Paw Pals and Hillsboro Police Department Community Outreach Programs successfully concluded their joint fund raiser—“3^rd Annual Waggin’ Trails Bike Ride 2010”. Designed routes of 10, 26, 40, 54, and 67 miles were provided to challenge cyclists of all levels. The success of this event stemmed from a supporting community, volunteers, sponsors and the outstanding professional support by our area Emergency Response Agencies—Bynum Volunteer Fire Department, Itasca Volunteer Fire Department and Hillsboro Community Emergency Response (CERT). Hill County Sheriff Jeff Lyon also represented the Hill County Sheriff Office in the command communications center. In addition to Hillsboro Police Department, Covington, Itasca and Whitney police departments assisted with traffic control.

We are blessed to have a community willing to support two important causes: Paw Pals with their goal of facilitating the installation of a proactive county animal program to include an animal shelter and Hillsboro Police Department’s Outreach Programs which is organized to reduce crime by increasing community involvement.

Covering required operating expense for printed t-shirts, food and drinks, advertisement, printing, and rest area portable lavatories came from our appreciated sponsors: Our platinum group of supporters (in alphabetical order) that provided $250 or equivalent support included: Antique Village, Citizens National Bank, Christi Pevehouse’s T-Shirts, Expressions Photography, HILCO Electric Cooperative, Hill Regional Hospital, Hillsboro Lions Club, Hog Wild Graphics (produced and donated our sponsor banner), McDonald’s, Starbucks, Road ID, and Walmart. Our gold sponsors that provided $100 or equivalent support included: Ace Hardware & Fleming Lumber Company, Amanda L. Scarborough, DDS-Hill County Dental, Brookshire’s, Cain Amusements, Days Inn, D. L. Williams Wood Products, First National Bank of Central Texas, H-E-B, Hill County Dental, Hill County Insurance Agency, Hometown Pride Car Care & Storage, Jim Hart’s Printing, Julie Siddons Realty, Marshall & Marshall Funeral Home, R & R Health & Fitness Center, Sims Moore Hill Gannon & Crain, Thunderbird Motel, Tipton International, Tucker Lumber Company, and White Bluffers Motorcycle Club. Our silver group of supports that provided $50 or equivalent support included: Citizens State Bank, Dwight Carmichael Law Office, Hill County Title Company, Kaddatz Auctioneering & Farm Equipment Sales, Patillo Brown & Hill, Paula Beers Texas Farm Bureau Insurance, Polansky’s Body Shop, Town Hall Estates-Hillsboro, and Triple H Feed Store. We are also thankful for the continued advertisement support from Reporter Newspaper, Hubbard City News, Paw Print Press, Whitney Lakelander and KHBR Radio.

First impressions for an event that draws cyclists from long distances are very important and begin to form during the registration period. Both Hillsboro Lions Club and Hill County Boys and Girls Club awakened early to start registering our cycling guests at 7:30am. All cyclists were registered, outfitted with T-shirts, provided maps of their routes, and lined up for the start of the ride at 9:00am. Safely guiding cyclists over five routes that stretched from 10 to nearly 70 miles over public roads was no small feat. Detailed coordination became a necessity and special recognition is due specifically for Detective Israel Abrego of the Hillsboro Police Department for being the key traffic coordinator. Volunteers at our six rest areas supported the event as safety liaisons and with refreshments: Barbara and David Diltz, Dana and Ronnie Fuchs, Mona and Johnny Orvig, Holly Holland and Maureen Werr (from Paw Pals) and Sabrina Leal, Connie Best, and Barbara Sauceba of Hillsboro Police Department. Many cyclists search the internet for rides so advertisement on the web becomes a critical player. We were very fortunate to have Warren Smith design our website www.waggintrailbikeride.com so cyclist could view the routes and register on-line. This site will be continuously open to help advertise next year’s event. Smith was also the primary designer of the brochures and posters that helped attract cyclist to our event.

Planning committee for this worthy event in alphabetical order were (in alphabetical order): Detective Israel Abrego (HPD), Chief Tony Cain (HPD), Vivian Caldwell (HCBGC), Lana Crow (HCPP), Barbara Diltz (HCPP), Dana Fuchs (HCPP), Mike Hendricks (HCPP), Warren Smith (HCPP), and Greg Solomon (HCC).

As with previous years, all cyclists’ critiques were positive—key elements to building a reputation that will draw other cyclists for our continued success. Planning has already started for our next ride which is scheduled May 7, 201l (first Saturday) where a 100 mile route will be planned. Pictures of this event will be posted soon on this website. For information about Paw Pals, please visit www.hcpawpals.org or call (254) 580-0679.