LAKEPORT — About 15 of Lake County”s finest went above and beyond the call of duty Friday when they volunteered their time to serve patrons at Renee”s Cafe in Lakeport. They worked hard seating customers and carrying beverages and plates of food, all to earn tips to benefit Lake County Special Olympics.
Among those who served the community though in a different form than usual were Lakeport Chief of Police Kevin Burke, Chief Russ Perdock of the Lake County Sheriff”s Office, and several officers from California Highway Patrol and the Lake County Probation Department. Staff from those agencies rotated through in shifts from when the event started at 7 a.m. until 2 p.m.
Michelle Compton, one of the regular wait staff at Renee”s, said the event has been staged there for the past three years. She said she remembered working with a few of the officers present Friday. “I”ve been trying for the past three years to show them how to carry plates,” she chided.
Compton noted that while the restaurant”s regular wait staff actually took down patron”s orders, Police Chief Burke was more than up to that task during his morning shift.
Also in attendance was CHP officer Arthur Dye, who said in an e-mail, “Judging from Burke”s performance he was obviously a waiter at one point in his life!”
The atmosphere may have been light as Lake County”s heroes served the restaurant-goers, but the cause was no less profound. Envelopes were given to patrons for collecting donations, or tips, for Lake County Special Olympics.
Two Special Olympics athletes also helped serve patrons. Kelseyville resident Cori Van Eck was one of them. His mother said, “he always says, my body has Down Syndrome, but my mind doesn”t.””
That was quite apparent during his brief interview with the Record-Bee. Van Eck, 33, has competed in the Special Olympics since age 5. In addition to competing in bowling, baseball, basketball and track, Van Eck has been the power lifting champ for three years running. “I”m going to do it again this year,” he said.
CHO officer Dye said a total of $1,927.80 was raised for Lake County Special Olympics from tips and T-shirt sales.
Another event is planned in Clearlake later this year. Law enforcement will conduct the torch run on June 2, and the poker run Sept. 8.
For more information or to make a donation, contact Lake County Special Olympics at 262-1269.
Contact Tiffany Revelle at trevelle@record-bee.com.
