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Sunday, July 27, 2003

By Deborah Weisberg

The Fraternal Order of Police (Lodge 47) held its 20th annual fishing adventure for exceptional needs adults at the pond near its lodge in Eighty Four in Washington County July 12.

	Chris Haney of Sewickley holds up the bluegill he caught at 20th annual fishing adventure. (Andy Starnes, Post-Gazette)

Chuck Jones of East Liberty, Rick Gluth of Washington and other Pennsylvania State policemen donated their day off to help more than 300 guests reel in some huge bluegills.

"It's not like giving up a day off," said Gluth, who has volunteered for 15 years. "It's as much fun for us as it is them."

Besides police officers, the event has become a tradition for folks who live near the lodge, including John Watts, a union carpenter from Lone Pine, whose father Babe, wife Terry and nieces and nephews have been involved for years.

"I can fish all the time," said Watts, who took charge of baiting hooks and keeping bobbers afloat. "For these people, it's once a year."

Mon River Bassmasters member Dave Ryan of Hopewell Township helped Chris Haney of Sewickley and a resident at the Verland Foundation catch one fish after another.

"Wow!," said Haney, as he watched Ryan cast out a line before handing him the rod.

"How big was that last one?" asked Verland staff member Brian Johnston of Penn Hills, and Haney, in true angler fashion, threw his arms open wide.

"He has a great time doing a lot of stuff. We go to ballgames," Johnston said. "But there's not much in the way of fishing, and he loves it."

The annual event was started 20 years ago with 60 guests, said organizer Jerry Fielder, a retired state trooper and an Allegheny County detective. With support from Pepsi-Cola, Schneider's Dairy, the West Newton VFW, South Hills Republican Club, the Shriners and friends of the FOP, the day also includes clowns, magicians and a picnic spread.

The FOP leases the 1-acre pond on Little Chartiers Creek from Consolidated Coal Company, which sealed a leak and pumped it with water just in time for event.

Of the 204 challenged adults, who are bused in from area institutions such as the Allegheny Valley School and ARC, 17 were in wheelchairs and some worked the rods with their feet.

"I've been sitting here an hour and not a bite," one angler lamented, with a shrug and a grin. "I guess that's fishing."