Two boys win new four-wheeler

Shop With a Cop exceeds its goal; will be held even if school is not in session

By TERESA RESSEL
Daily Journal Staff Writer

FARMINGTON — Two-year-old Bradley Boyer couldn’t wait to sit on his brand new four-wheeler.

Minutes later, when Shop with a Cop organizer Rod Harris handed his parents the keys, he got even more excited.

“It’s like a 16-year-old with a new car,” his dad, Mark Courtway said last week when they picked it up.

Boyer and his family from Farmington and another family from Irondale, the Rottlers, each won a child’s four-wheeler from the Shop With a Cop contest. The winners were announced on J98 the day before.

The radio station donates the four-wheelers to the St. Francois County Sheriff’s Department’s program each year as a way for the program to raise money.

When Harris contacted Tiffany Rottler, she said “Are you kidding?!” She said after she hung up the phone, she just started bawling. Michael Rottler II and Tiffany have a 15-month-old son, Michael III.

“I’ve been wanting to get him one but we couldn’t,” she said.

Bradley got the first pick of the ATVs since his name was drawn first. He started riding four-wheelers with his grandpa, Wayne Boyer, when he was just a baby.

“It’s how PawPaw used to put him to sleep,” his mother, Amanda said.

They said Bradley would be going to his grandpa’s in Cadet that weekend to break in the ATV.

Both families and Harris thanked the radio stations for donating the four-wheelers.

Unlike most of the holiday charities, Shop With a Cop has met its goal. Actually, it’s exceeded the goal and set a new record.

So far, the program has taken in $57,000 in donations. Last year the program raised a little more $40,000.

The biggest donation came from Sharo Shirshekan, who owns the Bonne Terre and Farmington family fun centers and many nursing homes. He donated $13,000 to the cause.

Harris said it was the largest lump sum donation they have ever received.

Right now, about 400 children are signed up. He’s called schools to let them know more can be accepted. “We will take as many kids as we can,” Harris said. “... If there is money left over, we will carry it over.”

Agencies and schools refer names of children in St. Francois County to the sheriff’s department. Each child selected to participate will be able to spend $100 tax-free at the Shop With a Cop event Thursday at Farmington Wal-Mart or Monday at the Desloge Wal-Mart. The event will go on even if school is canceled.

“If school is canceled we are going to try to encourage parents to go ahead and try to bring their children to Wal-Mart Thursday morning and run as many through as possible,” Sheriff Dan Bullock said. Any parents with questions can call the sheriff’s department at 573- 431-2777.

Each child will get to shop with someone from a law enforcement field.

Harris said it’s been a phenomenal year, and he thanks everyone who has supported the program. He said the sheriff’s department enjoys doing it every year.

“Last year we had the best year we ever had, but this year is going to be better,” he said.

Teresa Ressel is a reporter for the Daily Journal and can be reached at 573-431-2010, ext. 179 or at tressel@dailyjournalonline.com.

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