Kansas Gas Service awards grant to Arc of Butler

The Arc of Butler County has been awarded a check from Kansas Gas Service, a division of ONEOK, Inc. for $2,500 this year for their Special Olympics team, The Butler Blazers.

The grant will be used to cover registration fees for athletes and coaches to attend regional and state tournaments with the Kansas State Special Olympics organization.

The Butler Blazers participate and attend tournaments with the state organization each year in basketball, cheerleading, swimming, track and field, softball and bowling. Athletes currently range in age from 8 to 61 and compete at many different levels and abilities.

Currently, the Blazers are in their basketball and cheerleading season. Athletes will attend a regional tournament at Campus High on Saturday and a state tournament in Hays March 21-23, where the season will finish strong.

The Arc of Butler will begin taking applications for their next sport, Track and Swimming in March. To participate, athletes must be 8 years of age and have an intellectual or developmental disability, and a current physical on file with The Arc of Butler County.

Volunteers are needed to coach teams and assist athletes in the water and on the field.

To obtain more information about Special Olympics with the Butler Blazers, visit their Web site at: www.arcofbutlerks.org, call (316) 680-4240 or e-mail thearcofbutler@outlook.com.