VIDALIA &8212; Kids and parents: get your tackle boxes and rods and reels ready for fishing and fun at the D.A.R.E fishing tournament on Sept. 30.

Coordinator Kathy Stevens said the Concordia Parish Sheriff&8217;s Office 16th annual Miss-Lou Merchants Fishing Tournament would again be in conjunction with the Jim Bowie Festival.

&8220;Kids really have a blast and it&8217;s just good family time,&8221; Stevens said.

Parents can register their children on Friday, Sept. 22-29 until 12 p.m.

The sheriff&8217;s office encourages parents to sign children up early so they know how many T-shirts to order for the kids, Stevens said.

&8220;The sheriff&8217;s office is also buying books from the parish library to encourage children to read,&8221; Stevens said.

Every child will also get a prize this year, Stevens said.

Stevens said several merchants donated last year but the event was cancelled because of Hurricane Katrina.

&8220;We were just so busy dealing with Katrina and the victims that we decided not to have it but I&8217;m so glad we&8217;re able to do it this year,&8221; Stevens said.

Stevens said donations from last year and this year will help pay for the tournament and any money left over will go toward the D.A.R.E program.

Weigh-in Director Buz Craft said the judging of the tournament is at the Vidalia Riverfront property near Bunge Corporation.

&8220;I take my hat off to the sheriff&8217;s office and the people at Alcoa for getting this thing together again,&8221; Craft said, referring to the former Alcoa, now BASF.

Craft said he is always happy to volunteer his time and

encourages everyone in the Miss-Lou to participate.

&8220;The look on those kids faces when they bring in their fish to weigh them in makes my day,&8221; Craft said.

Fishing hours are from 6:30 to 11 a.m., and weigh in is from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m.

Children 2-18 years old can participate.

Fishing locations for the tournament are: Lake Concordia, Lake Saint John, Old River, Vidalia and Old River, Deer Park, Black River Lake, Four Rivers Jonesville or Natchez State Park Lake.

Participants can register for the tournament at these locations: Concordia Bank and Trust in Vidalia and Monterey, Concordia Parish Sheriff&8217;s Office, Concordia Sentinel, Ferriday, Sports Center/Rex Sporting Goods, Natchez Mall, Sports Center/Rex Sporting Goods, 305 Seargent S. Prentiss Drive, Natchez, Tensas State Bank, Ferriday, Catahoula Bank, Jonesville and Concordia Parish Sheriff&8217;s Office Doty Road Center.