The Square rumbled with more than 65 motorcycles whose riders included many Wilkes County law enforcement and EMS people, plus riders from as far as South Carolina. Motorcycle riders and law officers from around Georgia and South Carolina rode into Washington Saturday and raised more than $15,000 for the family of Wilkes County Sheriff Gary Rogers at a fund raiser called "Support your Local Sheriff - Ride for Gary."

And more donations are coming from Atlanta-area lawmen who were unable to make the ride Saturday but want to support the effort.

The high point of the fund raiser on The Square Saturday was the fact that the guest of honor was able to come, and was joined by long-time deputy Barry Bailey. "We were just thrilled that both Gary and Barry were able to be there," said organizer Kelly Harris.

The Georgia Sheriffs' Association's new custom bike was dedicated to Sheriff Rogers in a ceremony with representatives from the Georgia Sheriffs' Youth Homes and

Tim Harris, owner of Harris Custom Cycles, who is building the bike, and friends and family members of the Sheriff.

In addition, Charlie Burgess and Jerry Hackney held a benefit chicken barbecue for Sheriff Rogers and his family at the Young Farmers Building on North Alexander Avenue and sold out.

Tim Harris had 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 said.

In the dedication ceremony, Chris Rogers attached a Wilkes County sheriff's badge with his father's name to the bike. The law-enforcement themed bike, called "The New Sheriff," will be raffled off in November. riders raise thousands After a blessing of the bikes by Rev. Dale Fincher, Jill Rogers led some 65 riders in the 75-mile poker run, with stops at the sheriff's offices in Warren County, McDuffie County, Lincoln County, then back to Wilkes County. From there, they paraded back to The Square for the dedication.

The winning poker hand was held my Dawn Williamson, who won $350, and the 2nd place winner,

Jessie Williamson, won $100. At least one of the winners handed their prize over to the Rogers family.

Long-time Wilkes County lawmen Barry Bailey and Sheriff Gary Rogers greet friends and watch as Gary's family dedicate a custom bike to the Sheriff. More than $15,000 was raised by motorcycle riders, deputies, and police from all over Georgia "Support your Local Sheriff -Ride for Gary" Saturday on The Square. An account has been set up for the Rogers family at Farmers and Merchants Bank in Washington under "Ride for Gary."