Submitted Photo

Pictured is the design on the back of t-shirts being sold by the MCSD ladies auxiliary in attempts to raise funding for the Sheriff Eugene Crum Memorial Fund.

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Rachel Baldwin

Staff Writer

WILLIAMSON — The ladies auxiliary of the Mingo County Sheriff’s Department (MCSD), the “Shielded Hearts”, which is made up of spouses, mothers and significant others of the deputies are selling items to raise funding for the Sheriff Eugene Crum Memorial Fund.

According to Amanda Mines, the wife of Corporal Norman Mines and who is also employed as a Home Confinement Officer, the newly founded group is made up of 19 members including Sheriff Rosie Crum and Rhoda Diamond and Linette Morrison, who serve as MCSD Administrative Assistants.

The goal of the Shielded Hearts group is to raise funding that will used toward the needs of the Crum family, as well as establishing two memorial scholarships (Mingo Central and Tug Valley High Schools) in the memory of the late sheriff who was shot and killed on April 3.

“Eugene took great pride in both of the high schools in Mingo County and wanted to do whatever necessary to help the students excel in a safe and secure learning environment,” stated Mines. “Establishing scholarships for two deserving seniors in his honor is very fitting. It’s what he would have wanted.”

The group is currently taking orders for and selling t-shirts ($15 each) and window cling decals for $2. All proceeds earned will go directly into the memorial fund. The shirts must be paid for in advance before the order will be placed.

The group is concerned that a local business located in Goody, Ky. is selling the window clings that was created the day after the death of the sheriff, from a photo belonging to Linette Morrison, who is a professional photographer that owns and operates Linette’s Captured Memories. The business does not have her permission or the permission of Rosie, and have reproduced the exact design created for the MCSD by Dominoes Printing of Gilbert, according to Mines.

“Dominoes had applied for a copyright of the design they created for us using Linette’s photo of Eugene,” said Mines. “We are selling ours for $2, and the Kentucky business that is selling the reproductions without permission is reportedly selling theirs for $5. The money we make from the sell goes straight into the memorial fund; the business is not donating any of the proceeds from their sales as far as we’ve been told.”

“We’re hopeful that the public will support us in our fundraising efforts and will purchase a t-shirt and window clings from our group so that the proceeds will go toward the scholarships and for the needs of the family.”

If you would like more information on the items being offered, you may contact Mines at 304-235-0318, or Morrison and Diamond at 304-235-0300.