HOPKINSVILLE, KY (CHRISTIAN COUNTY NOW) – Mixed in with the crash and boom of the bowling alley, the laughter of children filled Southern Lanes for the second annual Military Child Bowling Night. The exciting night was part of April’s Month of the Military Child events from the Christian County Military Affairs Committee.
As the military families arrived for the festivities, they were treated to free pizza and raffle tickets for prizes to be given out during the four-hour event. City and county officials arrived for support, along with Hopkinsville Mayor J.R. Knight and Oak Grove Mayor Jackie Oliver. Members of varsity bowling students from Christian County and Hopkinsville High School were there to be mentors for the evening, helping kids pick out the perfect bowling ball and showing them techniques.
Thoni Butts and Rodney Childress brought three of their kids to the event, but they kept it a surprise. “They do bowl,” Childress said, “but when they found out all the extras, they were more excited.” A bowling team mentor joined the family as soon as they got to a lane and the kids began to mimic the moves immediately.
Coach Bill Halsey said the three-year-old team has been involved each year for the event. It gives the members extra practice time and helps build up their sense of community with the younger kids. With two of her teammates having made it to the state competition this year, sophomore Jasmine Beckwith, from Christian County High, was very excited to represent the team.
“It is amazing,” she told Christian County Now. “The kids definably keep it exciting. And hopefully it will interest the parents for the new sport in the school system.”
Her teammate, freshman Kyle Bauman from Hopkinsville High, said, “It’s a little hectic at times with very excited kids but it’s not overbearing.” The mentors were not the only ones enjoying the kids. Glenn Harris and his wife are lifelong bowlers. When their younger son found out he was going to get to bowl with his brother, who is another member of the varsity team, and his parents, he could barely sit still for the ride from home.
Throughout the evening the Director of Military Affairs, Shannon Lane, had the honor of awarding raffle prizes to the kids. In between, he spoke with the families, getting to know them and invite them to other events MAC is sponsoring throughout the summer. Their goal is to make military families feel welcome in the community while they are here and to come back to make it their home after their service is done.
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