News Release Archive

C.A.S.T. for Kids Event Scheduled in Bend

Media Contact: John Redding, (208) 378-5212, jredding@pn.usbr.gov
Barbara Lesser, blesser@pn.usbr.gov

For Release: June 30, 2005

Children with a wide range of disabilities will have the opportunity to reel in a whopper of a good time as they join enthusiastic volunteers during the eighth annual C.A.S.T. for Kids fishing event at Prineville Reservoir State Park near Prineville, Oregon, on Sunday, July 10. C.A.S.T. stands for Catch a Special Thrill.

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

"The participants range in age from 7-16 years old and have a variety of physical and/ or developmental disabilities and, in some cases, a terminal illness. Each participant will receive fishing gear, a t-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. The morning fishing events will be followed by a barbecue lunch donated for the past 7 years by Barr's Café in Prineville and hosted by the Kiwanis Club of Prineville. The Crook County Sheriff's Office will be assisting with parking, traffic control and marine patrol.

Since there is no local budget, donors in the community are critical to the ongoing success of this annual event. Tackle will be donated by Mister Twister. DiLusso Bakery Café in Bend will donate coffee for the early morning volunteers. They are both first time donors for this event. Pepsi products for the event will be donated for the 6th consecutive year by the Pepsi Cola Bottling Company of Bend. Ray's Food Place in Prineville will donate donuts and ice for the 3rd consecutive year. Water bottles will be provided for the participants for the 2nd year by Earth2O in Madras. New donors and volunteers are needed and always welcome.

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, and Crook County Sheriff's Office. Sid Carter and members of the Crook County Unit 29 American Legion/Auxiliary of Prineville will be volunteering once again, as they have for the past 4 years. There are still 5 available openings for qualified applicants. To register, volunteer, and for information about the July 10th event, contact local coordinator, Barbara Lesser, Bureau of Reclamation, Bend Field Office at (541) 389-6541, Ext 223. In the event of rain the C.A.S.T. event will be canceled.

For more background information about the program, contact regional coordinator, Shari Kohlbecker at the Bureau of Reclamation Regional Office, 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.

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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.