Anglers may want to find their fishing rods and sign up for the 20th Annual Bill Sanders-Bo Piper Memorial Benefit Bass Tournament, which will return to Pine Bluff on Saturday, April 1.
The event benefits the Area Agency on Aging of Southeast Arkansas, which provides services to senior citizens through home care, transportation, senior centers and Meals on Wheels.
Samantha Stichert is the accounts payable employee at the Area Agency on Aging and is volunteering to help with the bass tournament. The late Bill Sanders is the son of Betty Bradshaw, the president and CEO of the Area Agency on Aging of Southeast Arkansas.
“We started the tournament in 1996, and it was originally named Reelin’ for Meals,” Stichert said. “Bill Sanders was the driving force behind the tournament. The name of the tournament changed after Bill Sanders died in 2001. In 2001, they did not have a tournament. In 2002, it was changed to the Bill Sanders Memorial Bass Tournament.”
The late Bo Piper was the husband to Cynda Piper, the volunteer specialist at the agency.
Independent reporting for Pine Bluff & Jefferson County since 1879.
“Along with Betty Bradshaw, Cynda made the bass tournament happen,” Stichert said. “Bo Piper died in 2007. Miss Bettie Bradshaw and the committee decided to change the name to the Bill Sanders-Bo Piper Memorial Benefit Bass Tournament.
“The tournament is exciting because these guys give their time to fish to help us continue to provide services. All proceeds raised from this help our Meels on Wheels, homecare department, visiting clients in 10 counties, elders choice, and Southeast Arkansas Transportation which transports elderly people to doctors offices and grocery stores.”
The area agency on aging operates 13 senior centers across 10 counties. The senior citizens play bingo, play cards, and socialize.
“It is a way to get out there and not be stuck in the house,” Stichert said. “We feed them.”
Twyla Jamerson is an occupational health nurse at the Area Agency on Aging of Southeast Arkansas and is also volunteering behind the scenes to produce the bass tournament.
“I have two to four family members participating [in the fishing],” Jamerson said. “They are excited about it and are usually the first to sign up.”
Jamerson invited anglers to sign up and support their agency in serving its clients.
“I feel very good because we have such a need,” she said.
Boats will launch according to their paid registration numbers. The early entry fee is $110 per a two-person team, including the $500 Big Bass Pot, and two tickets to the King Kat Fish Fry immediately after the weigh-in, according to the agency. People may register at the Area Agency on Aging office at 709 E. Eighth Ave. in Pine Bluff or by calling 870-543-6300.
The tournament will start at sunrise and end at 3 p.m. at Pine Bluff/Jefferson County Regional Park at the access point of the Arkansas River.
Stichert hopes the tournament attracts at least 100 boats or 200 people.
“Last year we had 98 boats,” Stichert said. “We have women and children. At least one partner must be at least 18 years of age to operate the boat. We have little kids fishing with their dads. Anyone can fish. We have a weigh-master record the weight of the fish and release the fish.
The registration cost will remain $110 per a team of two people as late as Friday, March 31, at 4:30 p.m., Stichert said. The deadline to register is the day of the tournament, April 1, but there will be an additional $15 fee, making the total of $125 for two people. By April 1, people must pay by cash or check.