This weekend, the Coosa River will be full of boats rallied in support of Gadsden Police Officer Gary Pierce. Pierce was injured in a motorcycle wreck in March and spent several weeks at UAB Hospital. “Gary is a real good friend of mine, and I know what it’s like to be on sick leave,” said Scott Wolfe, a critical care paramedic and firefighter with the Gadsden Fire Department. “My hobby is boats, and I’ve got a lot of friends with boats and bikes.” Wolfe is helping organize the 2014 Coosa River Rally, which will be held Friday and Saturday. He said speedboats from as far away as Nashville and Fort Walton Beach, Fla., will be participating in the rally. “These are 35- to 40-foot boats,” he said. The event will kick off at 6 p.m. Friday with a “Captain’s Party” meet and greet for participants at the gazebo behind Chili’s and the old Fish Market. Saturday, the boats will begin their cruise at 11 a.m. “If there’s a crowd watching, we’re going to try to parade down to the Meighan Bridge and then get up to speed and come by,” Wolfe said. The boats will travel down the Coosa to the dam and back (a round-trip distance of 48 miles) before tying up off the main channel near River Country Campground. Members of the One Way Out Riding Club of Rainbow City also will be riding their motorcycles in support of Pierce. Wolfe said participants can play “poker” Saturday afternoon. “For a $20 donation, you reach in a bucket, pull out five cards and the best hand wins,” he said. The prize money will be determined by how many participants there are. T-shirts also will be sold for $15, and there will be a “split the pot” fundraiser. A block of rooms has been reserved at the Hampton Inn in Gadsden for those coming in from out of town, and the code CRR can be mentioned for a discounted rate. “We’re looking for a good turnout,” Wolfe said. “If Gary feels up to it, he’ll be there.” For more information, search for the group “2014 Coosa River Rally for Gary Pierce” on Facebook or call Wolfe at 256-312-7641. The Gadsden Times
Posted on: Thu, 15 May 2014 02:59:42 +0000
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