The first ever Jim Thorpe Police Department Fishing Contest was held at the Germantown Grove on the East side of town.

The event was open to all children in the Jim Thorpe Area School District ages 15 and under.The idea for the police-sponsored youth event originally came from retired Carbon County Sheriff Pete Hoherchak.Pete suggested the idea in a conversation with Jim Thorpe Police Chief Joe Schatz who agreed that it sounded like a great idea.The former sheriff said that they had put $1,200 worth of trout in the creek on the morning of the contest.Jim Thorpe's Mayor Michael Sofranko thanked the Germantown Grove Club and the Rodgers family for donating the use of the facility and buildings for the event.He said that the Germantown Grove Club crew did an outstanding job helping out with the fishing contest.The Mayor noted that the Police Chief, the officers that were there, and the Sheriff have all been here volunteering their own time.He was pleased to see such a great turnout for the first time that the fishing contest was being held.Sofranko went on to thank everyone for their support, for the people who bought the tickets and helped out with the event, and for all those who showed up that day.This fit right in with the police department's efforts to get out into the community and get the kids involved with positive activities.Chief Schatz said that their motto is try to give back to the community and that sponsoring the fishing derby is one way to do just that.We're giving back in helping the kids out and getting them to understand that the police are their friends.The Chief was grateful to the sponsors that contributed to the Jim Thorpe Police Department Fishing Contest, among them: Retired Sheriff Pete Hoherchak, the Rodgers Family, the Germantown Club, Borough of Jim Thorpe, Sand Spring Trout Hatchery, Cabella's, Mauch Chunk Trust Company, Jim Thorpe National Bank, Highland Beverage, Jim Thorpe Market, Jim Thorpe Auto Rentals, Jim Thorpe Lions Club, Jim Thorpe Rotary Club, Antonio's Pizzeria, Fairview Hose Co. Social Club, Henry Desrosiers, Michael Gallagher, and all the volunteers that helped make this 1st Annual Fishing Contest a great success.Everyone involved said that they look forward to making the Jim Thorpe Police Department Fishing Contest a yearly event along with other community outreach programs presently in the planning stages.