Local motorcycle riders and law officers will be out in force to see the Georgia Sheriffs' new custom bike dedicated to Wilkes County Sheriff Gary Rogers at a fund-raiser called "Support your Local Sheriff - Ride for Gary."

The fund-raiser will be held in Rogers' honor on The Square Saturday, July 22, from 10 a.m. until 4 p.m. A special bike dedication will be held at 3 p.m. with representatives from the Georgia Sheriffs' Youth Homes and Tim Harris, owner of Harris Custom Cycles.

The Washington custom motorcycle builder agreed to be a part of the bike build for the Georgia Sheriffs' Association and the Georgia Sheriffs' Youth Home in part because they agreed that Tim could dedicate the bike to his friend and local sheriff, Gary Rogers, his wife Kelly Harris said.

A Wilkes County sheriff's badge with Sheriff Rogers' name will be permanently attached to the bike. The law-enforcement-themed bike, called "The New Sheriff," will be raffled off in November.

"We want everyone to come out and show their support for our local sheriff and enjoy the day. Anyone wishing to be a vendor, have their business listed on the event t-shirts or make a donation, or ride in the poker run may contact me, Kelly Harris, at 706-678-4582 or 706-6784010; or Alice Hardin, of the Stars and Bars group at 706-678-4348; or Barbara Davis of Stars and Bars at 706-678-4893."

The event, sponsored by Harris Custom Cycles and the Stars and Bars motorcycle group, is being organized to show support for the sheriff and his family. "Food and other vendors will be around The Square, and we'll have a poker run, a 50/50 drawing, food, door prizes, t-shirt sales, and music," Harris said, "Plus a dunking booth with people from the Washington Fire Department and the Wilkes County Sheriff's Department. It'll be a fun day for the whole family to come out and show their support for our sheriff."

Sign up for the poker run will begin at 10:30 until 12:00 with all motorcycles and classic cars welcome. The first bike will go out at 12:30 and the last bike is due in at 2 p.m. "We will stop and draw cards at neighboring sheriff's offices and our last stop at our local sheriff's department. Then there will be a parade of riders for Gary back to The Square," Harris said.

The winning poker hand will receive $350, and 2nd place gets $100. There is a $25 sign-up fee and all proceeds will go to the family of Gary Rogers.

An account has been set up for the Rogers family at Farmers and Merchants Bank in Washington under "Ride for Gary."