VIDALIA — If there’s one thing local families know about this Saturday’s fishing tournament, it’s that the price will be the same as it was last year.

And the previous 18 years as well.

Registration ends at noon Friday for the Concordia Parish Sheriff’s Office 20th Annual Miss-Lou Merchants D.A.R.E. Youth Fishing Tournament. Kathleen Stevens, public information officer for the CPSO, said the registration fee is still $6, and children between ages 2 and 18 are eligible to participate.

“It’s always been $6. We’ve never changed it,” Stevens said.

The tournament begins at sunrise Saturday, and families can fish on any local body of water, be it public or private. The weigh-in will take place at the Vidalia Riverfront site from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday, and awards will begin to be presented at 1.

Stevens said the fact that the tournament has happened each year for the past two decades means countless numbers of children have been blessed by it.

“Sometimes we’ve had 600 to 700 children with their parents (participate). When you add that up over 20 years, that’s a lot of children getting out of the house and away from the TV and computers,” she said.

“Watching them with strings of fish and smiles is wonderful. If you have children or grandchildren yourself, it’s an invaluable experience.”

Every child will be awarded a trophy, and other fish-related prizes, Stevens said. Small children will also be given a book.

All proceeds from the tournament will go to support the Concordia Parish Sheriff’s Office’s local D.A.R.E. program. Although D.A.R.E. is known mostly for keeping children away from drugs and alcohol, Stevens said it helps deal with other issues facing the younger generation today.

“The program is so fantastic. It teaches kids about peer pressure and anti-violence, and also teaches them about how to handle bullying,” Stevens said.

“All of that is along with teaching them about drugs and alcohol. It’s the best program in the country.”

Interested families can register their children at the following locations: Concordia Bank & Trust in Monterey or Vidalia, the CPSO or the CPSO’s Monterey Substation, the Concordia Sentinel in Ferriday, Sports Center in Natchez, Tensas State Bank in Ferriday, Catahoula Bank in Jonesville, CPSO Doty Road Substation and Bryan’s Marine in Vidalia.

For further information, contact the CPSO at 318-336-5280, 757-3162 or 386-2200.