IRONWOOD, MI - Sunday, June 1, 2008 - The 2008 Bicycle Safety Program held by the Ironwood Public Safety Department was held Saturday and was a huge success. Over 150 bicycles were registered, and about the same number of kids were issued free bicycle helmets and presented a special video safety course.

Registering bicycles is a good idea! If a missing or stolen bike is found or recovered, the owner can easily be identified, and the bike can be safely returned. Registration stickers are applied to the frame of the bikes and corresponding numbers are punched onto the frame.

The video safety course instructs viewers how to select a helmet; how to properly wear a helmet; and the reasons for wearing a helmet. Following the video IPSD officers gave further safety traffic instructions, including use of proper hand signals.

The American Legion was on hand to supply free hot dogs, chips and beverages. The Hobby Wheel provided basic bike tune-ups free of charge at the event. Off-duty IPSD Officers, their families, and many others volunteered their time to help make the program run smoothly.

Twenty-Eight brand new bicycles were given away at the event. "Officer Matthew Sterbenz heads the program." said fellow Officer Mike Rimkus, "I used to run it, but Matt really took the bull by the horns and turned it into something really big! He's a real go-getter. He has done a terrific job building this program."

The IPSD building was filled to capacity with kids -- many of them anxious to test out their freshly tuned bikes and their new helmets. "This is like a car show for kids," one spectator noted, "These kids are as serious about their bikes as we are about our cars!"

Over 70 local businesses and individuals generously donated cash and merchandise to support the program. As you can tell by the photos attached to this article, the efforts of the donors and volunteers that made this program possible put some very big smiles on a lot of young faces -- and, more importantly, they may have saved a life or two!

"You know, the Ironwood Public Safety Department rarely gets the credit they deserve for all the good they do for this community." one parent told this reporter, "We are very lucky to have such a dedicated bunch of decent people insuring our safety in this town. The way they interact with these kids is amazing! Kids learn to respect others by being respected. These guys are great! Ironwood residents are very fortunate to have such a wonderful police and fire department!"

"So many people knock Ironwood!" said another parent. "But how many other communities would work together to make something like this happen? Just look at the list of local businesses that donated to this program!" referring to a list posted on the wall, "Don't tell me that local businesses don't do anything to give back to the city!"

Bicycle Winners for the 2008 Bicycle Safety Program were:

Paige Aho Leilah Anderson Ian Averitt John Balchik Jessica Beckman Ian Bentley Asher Carlisle Hannah Cebolski David Collins Melissa DiGiorgio Nicole DiGiorgio Benny Edwards Kinley Epping Justic Geesey

Angelina Jarvela Jewl Jett Jamie Kapelka Chasz Kasieta Lucia Lauzon Von Lyons Caleb Matusewic Dylan Neill Mason Rozelle Melody Tucker Haley Tull Jordon Walker  Parker Wilson Braxton Zaleski

Sponsors for the 2008 Bicycle Safety Program were:

American Legion Associated Title Service, Inc. Aukee Chiropractic Bale Clock Shop Ben Franklin Store Bratu's Hardwood Interiors, Inc. Burton Industries Care-A-Van Cloverland Plumbing Coleman Engineering Comfort Inn Motel Community Christian Church Crestview Motel Curves Daniel J. Pritone Dawn's Never Inn Dean & Pope Attorneys Donna Ikola Elle Stevens, Inc. Faith Newberry Properties Family Video Floors 'N Mor West Gasparick Music Service Gogebic County Transit Gogebic Range Bank Grand View Health Care System Gretta's Hallmark Hitt's Fine Furniture Hobby Wheel Holiday Gas Station Home Medical Iron Horse Tattoo Company Ironwood Cleaners & Laundromat Ironwood Daily Globe Ironwood Glass Ironwood Plastics Inc. Ironwood Professional Police

Jacobs, McDonald, Silc & Moore Jacquart Fabrics Jerry Sykelma Kiwanis Club Lakes Gas Company Maurice's McDonald's Memorial Building Midway Bar Mid-West Office Supplies Nicolet Staffing Norb's Auto Electric North Light Photography Northstar Physical Therapy Olde Suffolk Ale House Pisani Beverage Company Precision Tool & Mold Quality Collision Center Ramme's Collision Center Rebeccca M. Lynch Republic Bank Rigoni's Inn River Valley State Bank Ronnie's Camera & Sound Rovelski & Company Sawdust Bin, Inc. Sears Superior Law Superior Shoes (Rachael Hubbard) Super One Foods Tacconelli's The Medicine Shoppe Twin City Insurance Agency VFW Post 1823 Wal-Mart Wells Fargo Woodtech Builders, Inc.

To donate to next year's program send a check or money order to: Ironwood Professional Police Association, 123 West McLeod Avenue, Ironwood, Michigan  49938, or phone IPSD Officer Matthew Sterbenz at (906) 932-1234 extension 22.

Jim Albert