By Kelsey Musick
Local residents will have a chance to honor the memory of Boone County Deputy Jacob Pickett, who was killed in the line of duty in March 2018, during Deputy Jacob “Jake” Pickett Remembrance Day.
The event is from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. March 2 at the Boone County 4-H Fairgrounds, 1300 100 S, Lebanon.
The event will feature a variety of booths and events, including a car seat safety booth, a Red Cross blood drive, K-9 demonstrations and bounce houses.
Michelle Atkinson, a close friend of the Pickett family and one of the event coordinators, said Pickett loved serving the community.
“Instead of having a somber ceremony about us and our feelings, we felt it was important to have an event for the community that gave back in the way that he would have wanted,” Atkinson said.
Atkinson, who works with the Humane Society for Boone County, first met Pickett when he dropped off a stray dog he picked up on patrol.
“We continued that connection, and then my friendship with Jen (Pickett’s wife) has grown a lot deeper since his passing,” Atkinson said.
Atkinson would like the commeration day to become an annual event.
“It’s a lot of pressure to organize it all,” Atkinson said. “But I want it to become some kind of community day. He was always so kind and outgoing, and if there’s just one day everyone can remember that, and remember to be kind to another, I think that it can benefit the community greatly.”
All the donations will benefit the Sponsor A Deputy Foundation. For more, contact Atkinson at [email protected].
