Local agencies team up to ‘Make a Dream Come True’
C ALHOUN— T h e football field at Calhoun High School swarmed with so many law enforcement officers early Thursday morning it would have been easy for passers by to assume the worst. But all was well. The 16 officers from seven different agencies were on a joint mission to make a dream come true for 13-year-old Nick Sasser of Adairsville.
Nick dreams of someday joining the law enforcement officers who are sworn to protect elected officials, state employees and guests of the Georgia State Capitol. On Thursday, thanks to the Georgia Department of Public Safety, he got a sneak preview of this type of work. This is the third consecutive year for the department to team up with agencies across Northwest Georgia to make a special child’s dream of being a law enforcement officer come true.
Nick’s father, Kenneth Sasser, died from throat cancer at age 49 in April. Kenny, with his wife Tammie, was the father of three boys and worked as a special inspector for an engineering firm. His spirit and strength inspired his caregivers at Gordon Hospital throughout his twoyear battle with cancer. In spite of extremely difficult treatments, he remained cheerful and hopeful. As his health declined, he worked less and spent more time with his family—playing ball, building a deck and often taking quiet car rides with each of his sons.
Following Kenny’s death, Gordon Hospital Director of Oncology Services Lanell Jacobs nominated Nick to spend a special day with law enforcement officers. “It was an emotional journey for each member of this family,” Jacobs noted. But, she