Sep 12, 2008 - 06:02:11 CDT
As Team Law neared victory in a tug-of-war competition with Team Fire, Burleigh County Sheriff Pat Heinert was worried about one thing: the paint job on the new sheriff's department squad car on display at Kirkwood Mall.During last year's tug of war, the law enforcement team had to contend with a gourmet gum-ball machine. This year, the competition was set up against a sheriff's department car and a Bismarck Police Department car on display at the mall.
Team Law pulled to a quick win in the tug of war, which kicked off the second annual Battle of the Badges blood drive on Thursday. The shiny-new squad car also survived unscathed, despite Team Law members leaning within inches of it during the victory.
The blood drive at Kirkwood Mall enters its second day today, with Team Fire leading Team Law 70 donors to 49 donors.
Last year, the team representing area law enforcement agencies brought in five more donors than the team representing area fire departments. But Team Fire won all three side events during last year's three-day blood drive.
Officers from the Bismarck Police Department, Mandan Police Department, Lincoln Police Department, Burleigh County Sheriff's Department, Morton County Sheriff's Department and North Dakota HighwayPatrol, and firefighters from the Bismarck Fire Department, Mandan Fire Department, Bismarck Rural Fire Department and Mandan Rural Fire Department cheered on the teams and urged people to stick out their veins.
Though law enforcement and fire departments in the area work well together, the firefighters weren't afraid to talk about the victories in the past year, Morton County Sheriff's Deputy Bryan Steele, a Team Law tug-of-war participant, said.
"I think they've been rubbing it in some of our noses," he said.
Team Law was represented Thursday by Steele, Bismarck Police Officer Chad Fetzer, Bismarck Police Officer Steve Scheuer, Burleigh County Sheriff's Deputy Rocky Huschka and Burleigh County Sheriff's Deputy Bryan Sleeper. Team Fire was represented by Bismarck firefighters Brooks Martin, Josh Eldridge, Dan Friesz, Randy Jacobson and Kirk Stevens.
Today, participants from each team will compete in a push-up contest, followed by basketball shooting on Saturday.
Plenty of personnel from area public service agencies were on hand for the contest and the kick-off news conference at noon Thursday. Heinert, Bismarck Police Chief Keith Witt and Bismarck Fire Chief Joel Boespflug spoke at the news conference, encouraging people to give to the blood drive.
Heinert pointed out that the event coincided with the seventh anniversary of the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks on the World Trade Center and said the lives lost there should be remembered by events like the blood drive.
"In honor of them, please stop out,"he said.
Witt said people in Bismarck for the Downtowner's Street Fair should remember that the blood drive is only a short walk away at the mall.
Dessie Baxter, donor recruitment manager for United Blood Services, said the blood drive is a way to give back to law enforcement and firefighters.
"Every day, our law enforcement and our firefighters are our everyday heroes," she said. "You'll also be able to be a hero yourself."
Steele said the blood drive was fun, tug-of-war victory aside.
"It was a good time for a good cause," he said.
The drive got off to a quick start, with donors ready to give.
"We've been busy since we started an hour ago," Baxter said around noon.
Potential donors can make an appointment for the drive by calling United Blood Services at 255-3520 or going to www.bloodhero.com and using the sponsor code Badges2. They also can sign up at the blood drive in the I-Keating wing of Kirkwood Mall.
Donors must be at least 16 years old, weigh at least 110 pounds and be in good health. Photo identification cards are required to donate blood, and donors ages 16 or 17 must have parental consent.
The blood drive lasts from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. today and Saturday.
(Reach reporter Jenny Michael at 250-8225 or jenny.michael@;bismarcktribune.com.)
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