A W.A. Higgins Middle School student lost their home in a house fire and faculty and the Coahoma County Sheriff’s Office came together with a benefit basketball game last Friday to help raise money for the family.
The Higgins faculty played against the Sheriff’s office. The cost was $3 a ticket and, according to teacher Corney George, who is also the Clarksdale High School assistant boys basketball coach, around 100 individuals attended the game. George, who helped organize the game, believed it raised at least $300.
“The atmosphere was great,” George said. “It was great competition. The Sheriff’s department was kind of loaded, but it was all fun.”
The Sheriff’s office defeated Higgins 94-71, but George said, “We’ll be ready next year.”
The game is an annual event that always benefits something.
Sheriff Charles Jones has been glad to participate throughout his time in office.
“We do this once a year,” Jones said. “We have a benefit game at Higgins once a year for different causes. This one was for a family who lost their home in a house fire. We do this in Coahoma County, Tunica County and Quitman County. The Sheriff’s office, we go around different places.”
The games not only raise money, the reach the kids.
“We use it as a tool to bridge a gap between the community and law enforcement,” Jones said. “We’ve been doing it for the past nine years. We’re going to continue to do it because it helps. It works. When kids see you, they see us in a different way, not just law enforcement. They see us as regular people.
“It went real well. It was well received. We want to continue to build relations with the community. This is how we start it.”
