Students Get To Shop, Bowl

Christmas Morning Comes Early For Elementary School

Staff Sgt. Olin Rankin with the Benton County Sheriff’s Office bowls Wednesday at the Rogers Bowling Center with youth from the Sheriff’s Office Police Athletic League.

Staff Sgt. Olin Rankin with the Benton County Sheriff’s Office bowls Wednesday at the Rogers Bowling Center with youth from the Sheriff’s Office Police Athletic League.

Thursday, December 20, 2012

— Christmas morning came early for 11 Sugar Creek Elementary School students.

The students went shopping with several Benton County Sheriff’s Office deputies as their guides in the Benton County Sheriff’s Office Police Athletic League’s Shop with a Cop.

They had $200 to spend, but none of the money could be spent on violent video games.

Bicycles and other toys soon filled buggies as the deputies and their young partners ventured through the aisles of the Walmart Supercenter on Walton Boulevard.

“Just follow me,” said the 6-year-old partner of Sheriff’s Office Deputy Nathan Atchison.

It was a trip through the aisles of toys where the boy selected Woody, a character from the “Toy Story” films.

Lt. Jeremy Guyll said he looks forward to shopping with the children each year.

“I just love seeing their reactions to toys they get,” he said.

Cpl. Deputy Cory Coggin assisted a 10-year-old student with his selections. The boy focused on finding not only his gift, but something for his brother.

“He was really concerned about his brother,” Coggin said. “I think that’s great that he’s thinking about others and not just himself.”

Jail Capt. Chris Sparks also said he was impressed many of the children thought of other family members and bought gifts for them.

The children had lunch and went bowling at the Rogers Bowling Center following their shopping excursion.