News Release Archive

C.A.S.T. For Kids Reels In Whopper Of Fun At Prineville

Media Contact: John Redding, (208) 378-5212, 06/29/2004 00:00
Barbara Lesser, blesser@pn.usbr.gov

For Release: June 29, 2004

Children with a wide range of disabilities will have the opportunity to reel in a whopper of a good time as they join some enthusiastic volunteers during the annual C.A.S.T. for Kids event scheduled for Prineville Reservoir on Sunday, July 11.

C.A.S.T., which stands for "Catch a Special Thrill," offers children with disabilities and terminal illnesses an opportunity to enjoy a day of fishing at Prineville Reservoir State Park, near Prineville, Oregon.

"For some kids, this is their first experience fishing," said Barbara Lesser of the Bureau of Reclamations Bend Field Office. For the volunteers, its a great opportunity to be part of a special experience that these children will remember for a lifetime.

The children invited range in age from 7-16 years old and have a variety of physical or developmental disabilities and, in some cases, a terminal illness. Each participant will receive fishing gear, a tee shirt, and a hat, Lesser said.

Volunteers from the Central Oregon BASS Club will provide fishing boats and expertise to assist novice anglers. The state bass anglers societies work under the large umbrella of the Bass Anglers Sportsman Society (BASS). The morning fishing events will be followed by a barbecue lunch donated annually by Barr's Cafe' and hosted by the Kiwanis Club of Prineville.

The Crook County Sheriff's Department will be assisting with parking and traffic control and the Prineville Fire Department will be providing emergency services for the event.

Local donors in our community are the key to this event. Bait and tackle for this year's C.A.S.T. event is once again being donated by Moonlight Marine in Bend, and Pepsi products for the event will again be donated by the Pepsi Cola Bottling Company of Bend. Water bottles will be provided for the participants, as they have been in the previous four years, by Les Schwab Tire Centers of Central Oregon and the Coca Cola Bottling Company of Oregon in Bend. Royal Blend Coffee in Bend and Ray's Food Place in Prineville also contribute refreshments annually.

Partners include: C.A.S.T. for Kids Foundation; Bureau of Reclamation; Bureau of Land Management, Oregon State Parks and Recreation Department, Central Oregon Bass Club, Kiwanis Club of Prineville, Crook County Sheriff's Department, Prineville Fire Department, and the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife. Volunteers for the event are members of the Crook County Unit 29, American Legion Auxiliary of Prineville.

Prineville Reservoir is impounded by Arthur R. Bowman Dam, located on the Crooked River about 20 miles from Prineville, Oregon.

For more background information about the program, contact Shari Kohlbecker at Bureau of Reclamation, Suite 100, 1150 North Curtis Road, Boise ID 83706-1234 or (208) 378-5050 or visit the C.A.S.T. for Kids Foundation official website at www.castforkids.org.

For information about the July 11th event, contact Barbara Lesser, Bend Field Office (541) 389-6541 ext. 223. In the event of rain, the C.A.S.T. event will be canceled.

# # #

The Bureau of Reclamation is a federal agency under the U.S. Department of the Interior and is the nation's largest wholesale water supplier and second largest producer of hydroelectric power. Our facilities also provide substantial flood control, recreation opportunities, and environmental benefits. Visit our website at https://www.usbr.gov and follow us on Twitter @USBR; Facebook @bureau.of.reclamation; LinkedIn @Bureau of Reclamation; Instagram @bureau_of_reclamation; and YouTube @reclamation.