The Mountain Lake Police Department (MLPD) held a Bike Rodeo go-round for grade-school bicyclists today (Saturday, June 4), in the parking lot of the Cornerstone Bible Church.
Members of the Cornerstone Church – especially the mechanically-included – were on hand as volunteers, completing safety inspections and making minor adjustments to bikes (inflating tires and checking and correcting brakes, pedals, bike chains, handlebars and reflectors), as well as fitting rodeo participants with free bike helmets.
Running the inspections, helmet-fitting and rodeo was MLPD Chief of Police Doug Bristol. MLPD Officer Emily Mathiowetz led the bike riders on the trio of rodeo courses. Assisting Officer Mathiowetz with the rodeo set-up was MLPD Officer Jacob Vitzthum.
This Thursday, June 9, the MLPD will host its inaugural Group Bike Ride around the lake. All interested riders (of any age) should meet at the Mountain Lake City Park gazebo at 10 a.m. Bicycle helmets must be worn in order to be able to participate.
These programs of the MLPD have been made possible through a grant from the Mountain Lake Area Foundation (MLAF), as well as department funds.
MLPD CHIEF OF Police Doug Bristol, left, sizes up a new free bike helmet (red was the color of choice) for Kaleb Nowak, right. In the center is Cornerstone Volunteer Gloria Klassen, who assisted with the helmet distribution and sizing.
CORNERSTONE VOLUNTEER MARK Penner, left, checks to make sure Jessah Janzen’s helmet is just right.
RON NICKEL, ANOTHER volunteer from Cornerstone, on bike-fixxer-upper duty.
PASTOR NATHAN JANZEN of Cornerstone, right, joins Ron Nickel, left, in tackling all that is needed to get the bikes in tip-top pedaling condition.
ISAAC NOWAK, RIGHT, gets right into the nitty-gritty of checking his bike pedals with the assistance of Cornerstone’s Pastor Nathan Janzen, left. Watching her brother at back is Raina Nowak.
CHEESIN’ IT AT the Bike Rodeo. Rennick Romsdahl astride her self-propelled Strider two-wheeler.
GRANT REGIER PEDALS his way through one of the Bike Rodeo’s courses – making sure to look back over his left shoulder as he makes a left turn.
MLPD OFFICER EMILY Mathiowetz, right, provides assistance to Gavin Wall, left, as he makes his way around this course – one of three on which the bicyclists practiced.
CONCENTRATION IS ETCHED on the face of Jayger Romsdahl as he preps to make the left turn in the pathway between the yellow cones.
EASY-PEASY-LEMON-squeezy. Adalynn Kufahl runs this rodeo course with ease.
MLPD CHIEF OF Police Doug Bristol demonstrates to the young bike riders this slalom course at the rodeo – weaving around the orange cones. Chief Bristol is riding the police department’s bicycle.
NEVAEH OTT COMPLETES the cone slalom without hitting any of the orange cones.
CORNERSTONE VOLUNTEERS MICHELLE Schroeder, left, and Ron Nickel, right, set up lunch for the Bike Rodeo participants – a menu including grilled hot dogs, watermelon and a beverage.
The Mountain Lake Police Department (MLPD) held a Bike Rodeo go-round for grade-school bicyclists today (Saturday, June 4), in the parking lot of the Cornerstone Bible Church.
