Bibb County Sheriff’s Department Secures Grant to Enhance K9 Unit
By Sheila Duncan
Reporter
Tombigbee RC&D held a press conference on the town square of Centreville with an announcement of a $25,000 grant to help toward the project of the K9 Utility vehicle and training.
Several speakers addressed the media. Nneka Williams, Executive Director of the Tombigbee RC&D, welcomed everyone and introduced the speakers: Jim Martin, Chair of Bibb County RC&D; Mayor Mike Oakley; Senator April Weaver; and State Representatives Curtis Travis and Russell Bedsole. Jim Martin, Chair of the Bibb County RC&D started by saying, “We are very happy to be here today to present this check for the K9 Unit and want to thank the legislators, they are always willing to help our sheriff’s Department in any way.”
Mayor Oakley was first to speak stating on behalf of the City of Centreville, Jeff Dodson with the City of Woodstock and Daniel Sims with the City of West Blocton and Bobby White with the City of Brent saying, “I can’t say enough about RC&D, the resource conservation and development efforts of our county have made a difference in not only the city of Centreville but Bibb County as a whole under the umbrella of the Tombigbee resources RC&D develops and gives grants out that really help the projects big and small, the vehicle is a welcome addition to our sheriff’s department and the canine dog that was also a RC&D project, helps everybody regardless of the city you live in.”
Sheriff Jody Wade shared his heartfelt thanks by saying “I’m very excited about this check that we are getting from RC&D to help us continue our canine program with the training, canine animal, vehicle and equipment, it is very expensive undertaking that had taken us a long time to build up to when Brad Johnson made our K9 operations such a success. We are trying to carry on the good work he started. We are moving forward in honoring Brad’s legacy and what he left behind. We are very thankful for the equipment and training we have had for K9 Deputy Brad Taylor and Ari (canine dog) and am proud of him and we are glad to better serve the citizens of Bibb County.”
State Senator April Weaver, also in attendance for this special press conference, shared, “The first thing legislative delegation thought about was our partnership with RC&D. RC&D is always so wonderful to help us here in our community. They are great to work with. Throughout the session we try to create funds create funds to bring back to our communities and help them with their line item. This kind of brings it full circle for us because when we allocate those funds during the legislative session, we see it as a line item and when we get to bring projects like this back into our district by working with them in partnership, it really brings us full circle.”
The press conference concluded with a sense of unity and gratitude as each speaker highlighted the critical impact of partnerships and community-focused initiatives.
