Over the Memorial Day holiday weekend, I had the pleasure of covering three very special events.

On Saturday, I covered the annual Bainbridge High School Bearcats Touchdown Club Golf Tournament at Bainbridge Country Club to benefit Coach Ed Pilcher’s 2010 Bearcats football team.

Everyone had a good time while raising money for a good cause.

Coach Pilcher is building a strong football program at BHS and the financial support from the golf tournament and other Touchdown Club functions will allow him and his coaches to do the things they need to have a first class program.

Coach Pilcher is doing an outstanding job with our young Bearcats football players. He had an outstanding record as head coach at Thomas Country High School before coming here and has also served on the Georgia High School Association Board.

BHS principal Tommie Howell has called Coach Pilcher possibly the most respected high school football coach in the state of Georgia.

On Sunday, I drove down to Wingate’s Lunker Lodge on Lake Seminole to cover the 39th anniversary of one of my all time favorite events.

I’m talking about the Bainbridge Bass Club’s annual Memorial Day Weekend Buddy Bass Tournament.

I go back a long way with the Bainbridge Bass Club. For years, when my good friends Harvin Black and the late Don Hall and Charles Rush were involved in it, their annual tournament was held on Labor Day weekend.

Several years ago, when the Bainbridge-Decatur County YMCA decided to have their memorial tournament for another late good friend Sammy Gray on Labor Day weekend, the Bainbridge Bass Club moved their tournament to Memorial Day weekend with my good friend club tournament director Joey Farris in charge.

Through the years, the Bainbridge Bass Club has helped several great causes with their tournament proceeds including the Georgia Sheriffs Boys Ranch and the Childrens Miracle Network.

My weekend coverage concluded on Monday with the fourth annual Bainbridge High School Lady Cats and Bearcats cross country teams Memorial Day Night 5,000-meter, 3.1-mile run and one- mile run that began and ended at W.M. Coyle Park.

Pictures and complete coverage of the runs will appear in Saturday’s edition.

The run began with a moment of silence in honor and memory of all those military personnel who gave their lives so we could enjoy all the freedoms we enjoy today.

I thought it was fitting that Michael Kennett, a U.S. Marine Corp veteran from Tallahassee, Fla., was presented a special award for his dedicated service to the country and being the top military finisher.