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Shooting contest benefits Goodfellows

By Darrell Clem

Staff Writer

Like John Wayne coming to the rescue, Westland police officers and a local gun range will sponsor a pistol-shooting contest to raise money to help needy children.

The Westland Police Officers Association and the Firing Line Indoor Gun Range will sponsor the competition to help the Westland Goodfellows buy Christmas gifts this year for children who might otherwise not receive any.

The pistol match is scheduled for 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 10, at the Firing Line, off of Hix Road between Ford and Warren. Cost to enter is $20.

"We decided to adopt a Westland charity, and what better one than the Goodfellows?" asked retired Westland police Lt. Tommy Vaughan, part-owner of Firing Line.

Every year, hundreds of local children receive Christmas gifts from the Goodfellows, known for selling newspapers at major city intersections during the Thanksgiving holiday weekend.

Goodfellows leaders Jim Rachwal, Larry Futrell and others have said the organization has had to become more creative in raising money, in hopes of reducing the dangers of selling newspapers in busy intersections.

The $20 cost of entering the pistol match will cover lunch and 50 rounds. Plaques will be given to winners in various classes.

"We're only selling 250 tickets," Vaughan said.

The event will include a raffle for a .45-caliber Smith & Wesson semiautomatic gun and for a commemorative, collector's rifle engraved with historic sites in Wayne County, Vaughan said.

For more details on the match, visit the Web site www.firinglineguns.com or call (734) 326-7320.

[email protected] - (734) 953-2110