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Rachel Baldwin

Staff Writer

WILLIAMSON — Although the weather failed to cooperate for those attending the 2013 “Rally in the Valley” event last weekend that planned to take part in the Sheriff Eugene Crum Memorial Poker Run, the riders are very excited to hear that a new date has been set for the highly anticipated charity run.

Paul Price, the Public Relations Officer of the Sidney, Ky. based Appalachian Brotherhood riding club told the Daily News the Poker Run is now scheduled to take place at 2 p.m. on May 26th, at the Sycamore Inn on 2nd Avenue in Williamson, with registration beginning at 1 p.m.

The motorcycle procession is expected pass by the site of where the sheriff was fatally shot on April 3, as well as through Crum’s hometown of Taylorville and other communities where he had worked within the county.

Price stated that he is hopeful that a good number of riders will travel back to Williamson to participate in the ride, saying there were approximately 200 bikes that would have rode if the weather would have permitted on May 5. The ride is expected to last for a 4-5 hour period.

“We’re very optimistic that we’ll be blessed with a great turnout,” said Price. “After we posted the new date on our Facebook site Wednesday morning, it was viewed by over 2,700 people in just a matter of a few, short hours.”

“Sheriff Eugene Crum was instrumental in helping with the 2012 rally, and we feel it was a fitting tribute to his memory to name the ride after him,” said Price. “He was a highly respected man in this county and was well loved. He was on a mission to put an end to drugs in our county, now our mission is to make sure his name and legacy is never forgotten.”

Mingo County Chief Magistrate Dallas Toler will be the lead motorcycle in the ride and his passenger will be the Sheriff Rosie Crum, who was appointed to fill the vacancy left by her late husband. Several cruisers driven by deputies with the Mingo County Sheriff’s Department (MCSD) will be leading the event.

“There’s not a day goes by that Eugene isn’t in my thoughts,” stated Toler. “He was my buddy…no one will ever take his place. This ride is very important to all of us who knew and loved Eugene, and I want to personally invite everyone who has a bike to come out and ride with us on May 26th. Help us pay tribute to a great man, a loyal friend, and one heck of a sheriff.”

The cost to participate in the ride will be $15 per bike. The MCSD ladies auxiliary, The Shielded Hearts, will be selling Eugene Crum Memorial t-shirts before the ride begins, and will be set up near the registration table. The shirts will be available for purchase at a cost of $15. To reo-order a specific size, please contact the Mingo County Sheriff’s Department at 304-235-0300.

If you require additional information about the ride, please visit the Rally in the Valley Facebook page.

“C’mon out and ride with us, we’re going to have a great day and a wonderful time,” said Price. “We’re also in the process of trying to finalize plans for a free concert that will follow the conclusion of the ride, and more information will be released as soon as everything is confirmed.”