Law enforcement officials across four counties are set to rumble in the streets this weekend – all for a heart-warming cause – helping a family devastated by a recent tragedy.
The "Griffin and Jake Prince Memorial Ride and Classic Car Cruise-In" takes place Saturday, Aug. 11, sponsored by the Dawson County Sheriff's Office with assistance from Hall, Lumpkin, and , a press release stated.
tragically killed on June 18 in the Shoal Creek area of Lake Lanier [near Lake Lanier Islands] after a fishing boat, , struck the Prince family's pontoon boat.
Registration for the ride takes place at the Lumpkin County Courthouse located at 325 Riley Road in Dahlonega from 9 a.m. until 11 a.m. The cost is $40 per bike.
Then at 11 a.m. there will be a brief ceremony given by Lumpkin County Sheriff Stacy Jarrard and Hall County Sheriff Steve Cronic. Afterwards a pre-ride safety briefing will take place given by Sgt. Kelley Edwards of the HCSO, who was also one of the divers searching for Griffin, according to Lt. Doug Boyle of the Dawson County Sheriff's Office, the event organizer.
"After that there will be a pre-ride prayer given by DCSO Chaplain Mike Owens," said Boyle.
Then kickstands go up at 11:15 a.m.
The 'Memorial Ride' is a 70-mile police escorted ride around Lake Lanier, starting at the Lumpkin County Courthouse, travelling into Gainesville, down to and over the Buford Dam, into the city of Cumming, and ending at the City Hall/Racing Hall of Fame Museum located at 415 Hwy 53 East in Dawsonville.
In addition to the ride, there will be activities for the entire family beginning at 1 p.m. featuring more than 30 vendors at the Dawsonville City Hall location, including a kids jump house and face painting. The "World Famous" Pool Room will provide food for the event (hamburger, fries, and a drink for $10) and live music by the Brian Jarrett Band.
The Classic Car Cruise-In will also start at 1 p.m. with a $20 minimum donation being accepted.
"Upon our arrival here in Dawson County between 12:45 and 1:45, somewhere in there, another ceremony will take place with Sheriff [Billy] Carlisle and Sheriff Ted Paxton with Forsyth County," Boyle said.
All proceeds from this event will benefit the Griffin and Jake Prince Memorial Fund, a fund set up to help the family offset the funeral and burial cost of the boys.
Boyle said that he believes there will be between 150 and 250 riders on their bikes for the event.
If you are out and about and the ride passes by you, show your support and wave at the procession.
In case of rain, the event has been scheduled for Saturday, Sept. 1. Parking is available at the Dawson County Middle School and not in the Food Lion Shopping Center.
For more information contact, Lt. Doug Boyle at 770-324-1015 or via e-mail.
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