Chris Gilligan
Office: 502-564-7554
Cell: 502-330-4967
Email: chris.gilligan@ky.gov
http://www.justice.ky.gov

Captain Brad Bates
Kentucky State Police
Media Relations Branch
Ph:  502-695-6344

(FRANKFORT, Ky.) – WASSERcraft Marine Dynamics Inc. presented one of its new boats to Lt. Governor Stephen B. Pence and Kentucky State Police (KSP) Commissioner Mark L. Miller, both of whom accepted it on behalf of Trooper Island Inc. The presentation was made today at the Louisville Sport, Boat and Vacation Show running at the Kentucky Fair and Exposition Center.
 WASSERcraft President Allen Edwards donated one of the specially sized pontoon boats it manufactures along with a canopy. Total value of the package is $5,325.

Lt. Governor Pence said this was a magnanimous gesture by WASSERcraft, an Elizabethtown boat company established in March 2004. "I want to thank the great folks at WASSERcraft Marine Dynamics Inc. for their generosity and support for Trooper Island," said Pence, who also serves as the Secretary of the Justice and Public Safety Cabinet. "This donation will teach children abut the important lessons of boat safety while embarking upon an experience of a lifetime."

Commissioner Miller, who is Trooper Island Board of Directors’ chairman, added that businesses like WASSERcraft have helped Trooper Island, a summer camp for children, maintain the camp’s focus while expanding its scope. “We help children build their self-image and teach them responsibility … including safe-boating habits,” said Miller. “We also have special camps … for children with vision impairments, heart complications and for PKU (phenylketonuria), a genetic disorder that can cause brain damage … we’ve been able to expand Trooper Island in this way through unrestricted gestures such as WASSERcraft’s.”

Trooper Island, a non-profit entity administered by the Trooper Island Board of Directors and staffed by the Kentucky State Police, runs free weeklong summer camps for disadvantaged children ages 10-12. The island is in Dale Hollow Lake in Clinton County.

Established in 1965, Trooper Island celebrates its 40th anniversary this year. For more Trooper Island information, call (502) 695-6344 or go to the Web site www.kentuckystatepolice.org/island.htm.

-30-