Special Olympics athletes have fun at 'Hot Bocce'

COLTON - Special Olympics athletes had a chance to enjoy the summer sun at "hot bocce" at the Colton Booster Gun Club on Saturday, July 13. The event also included cornhole and card games inside.

The event had 92 participants and they all agreed "hot bocce" should be an annual event. When it first began in 2022, the temperature outside reached 104 degrees, hence the name "hot bocce." This year was a bit cooler as the temperature was notched at 94 degrees outside when checked during the lunch break.

Athletes were also introduced to some upcoming activities.

"Danielle Cares for Chairs collects plastic bread tabs to make wheelchairs ... OK, they recycle the tabs to make money for wheelchairs," said Deb Niehenke, program coordinator for the Whitman County Cougars Special Olympics. "The Whitman County Cougars Special Olympics Team is collecting for this foundation, and we need your help!"

Each athlete who collects 100 tabs will earn a T-shirt. The team is collecting through April 2025.

Fire and Cop on Top

The Whitman County Cougars will host this fundraiser on Friday, Aug. 30 at the Pullman Walmart from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

The fun event is open to the public to join in on squirt-gun fights with firefighters and law enforcement agencies to celebrate the summer. This is a new event, so details are still developing.

Community partners would be greatly appreciated and information is available from Niehenke at whitcospecialo@gmail.com.