AMERICUS — It’s time to Paint the Town Blue, Again! The second annual Paint the Town Blue Gala is scheduled for Saturday, March 10. Proceeds from the gala benefit the Smarr Smith Foundation, which was formed in 2017, to honor the sacrifices of Officers Nick Smarr and Jody Smith, who were killed in the line of duty on Dec. 7, 2016. The foundation provides funding for scholarships at the two local colleges and also provides money to local law enforcement agencies for training and equipment. The foundation provided over $20,000 in scholarships to Georgia Southwestern State University and South Georgia Technical College, and over $30,000 in equipment to the Americus Police Department, Georgia Southwestern State University Police Department, Sumter County Sheriff’s Office, and Georgia State Patrol.
All three local law enforcement agencies will announce and honor their Officer of the Year at the gala. There will also be an important joint presentation by Congressman Sanford Bishop, Senator Johnny Isakson, and Senator David Purdue.
The gala begins with at 6 p.m. with a cocktail hour and silent auction and continues at 7:30 p.m. with dinner and entertainment from comedian Jeff Allen and music from The Swinging Medallions.
Contact Chief Mark Scott at the Americus Police Department for additional information. 229-924-3677, ext. 329 or 229-591-3310.