Bath police chief takes dive for youth
By ROB PRICE THE COURIER-ADVOCATE

PHOTO BY ROB PRICE Bath Police Chief David Rouse emerges from Lake Salubria after serving Friday as the annual Tyrtle Beach jumper. Rouse's jump raised nearly $32,000 according to early estimates - short of the record set by Heather Wheaton in 2005.

BATH - It wasn't exactly blustery when the Tyrtle Beach Youth Fund held its annual Lake Salubria jump-in Friday afternoon.

On the other hand, it wasn't exactly balmy.

And then there was the matter of the rain, which started falling minutes before Bath police Chief David Rouse arrived to serve as the honored jumper of the year. By the time, Rouse split the chilly waves, it was pouring. When Rouse emerged from the water - after paddling around for nearly a minute - it was hard to tell if he was any wetter than the 50-70 spectators who had gathered on the shore of Lake Salubria to cheer him on.

Rouse came close to matching the $33,000 record set by Bath police Inv. Heather Wheaton in 2005. He had vowed to raise $35,000 in serving as the 2007 jumper; initial figures, however, showed Rouse's jump raising nearly $32,000. Gary Pruyn, director of the Steuben County Youth Bureau, estimated food and souvenir sales could raise another $1,000.

No one was complaining, though. The annual Tyrtle Beach jump raises funds that are distributed among more than 70 youth organizations in central Steuben County. One hundred percent of contributions go to the organizations, with area businesses donating assistance in managing the program.