Big crowd turns out for rodeo; Sheriff injured by bucking bull

By Sonny Turner
sonny@athensnews-courier.com

May 17, 2008 08:40 pm

— Near record crowds were on hand Friday and Saturday nights at the 26th annual Limestone County Sheriff’s Rodeo, which is one Sheriff Mike Blakely, will not soon forget.
Blakely, a cowboy himself, dislocated a shoulder while standing on top of bucking chute No. 1 at the Sheriff’s Rodeo Arena while a rider was preparing to ride a bull in that chute.
Blakely was taken to Athens-Limestone Hospital and treated in the emergency room. Sheriff’s Department spokesman Paul Cain said Saturday the sheriff is recovering, apparently from a rotator cuff injury.
Cain said before the door opened to start the ride, the bull reared and jumped over the chute, knocking the sheriff into the air. Blakely fell to the ground, separating his shoulder.
Limestone County Emergency Management Agency Director Spencer Black was this year’s rodeo grand marshal. Black, who has been the EMA director in the county for more than 30 years, said this week he might retire sometime in the near future.
A graduate of Clements High School, Black became the EMA director in 1971. When he started work, he was paid $425 per month and operated out of the basement at the old Limestone County Jail on Green Street.
Blakely credits Black with keeping Limestone County “ahead of the curve in preparedness.”
“When everyone started talking about interoperable communications and joint incident commands (referring to Katrina and 911), we all remarked that Spencer had us doing those type things years ago,” Blakely said. “Spencer has been a remarkable EMA director for almost four decades. We will miss his willingness to lobby anybody from the governor to Congress to get funding for this county and all its emergency services. I value his dedication, and professionalism, as well as depending on him as a very close personal friend, and we are proud to honor him during the rodeo.”
Proceeds from the rodeo go totally to the Sheriff’s Department for purchase of equipment and patrol cars.

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