Bath police chief joins Tyrtle Beach tradition
By ROB PRICE THE COURIER-ADVOCATE

PHOTO BY ROB PRICE Bath Police Chief David Rouse tests the waters at Tyrtle Beach, where he will immerse himself April 27 to raise money for the Tyrtle Beach Youth Fund.

BATH - Bath Police Chief David Rouse has a clear goal for the next several weeks.

He wants to raise $35,000 as the 2007 Tyrtle Beach jumper.

Rouse wants to break the $33,000 record set in 2005 by Bath police officer Heather Wheaton. It sounds like a friendly rivalry. Make no mistake, though: Rouse is playing to win.

"I'm going to break that record," he announces while driving to Lake Salubria to survey the jump-off area.

The day is cool, but the sky is blue. Snow would begin falling later in the evening, and temperatures would plummet over the next several days, turning the first promising days of spring into just another long winter.

Rouse stands on a rock and dips his toe into the water. "Hey, this is pretty cold," he says.

Rouse will join a long tradition of Tyrtle Beach jumpers at about 6 p.m. April 27. Past jumpers have included, along with Wheaton, Dave Taylor Smith of WVIN Radio, Steuben County District Attorney John Tunney, Congressman John "Randy" Kuhl (when he was a state senator), and former county Sheriff Walter DeLapp (before he disappeared at the helm of a sailboat).

The annual event raises money for the Tyrtle Beach Youth Fund, which in turn disperses the funds among more than 70 youth organizations in central Steuben County. Gary Pruyn, director of the Steuben County Youth Board, notes 100 percent of the funds are donated to the organizations, with local businesses donating assistance in administering the program.

And the event itself is always fun. Hot dogs and snacks are for sale; WVIN Radio, sponsor of the event, broadcasts live from the Salubrian shore; dozens of people visit the park to watch the annual sacrifice.

"I'm sure looking forward to it," says Rouse. He adds: "I sure hope it warms up, though."