Benefit for Deuel Co. deputy nets $7K

Volunteers served about 1,000 pancakes on Saturday morning during a benefit breakfast for a Deuel County sheriff's deputy shot four times in the line of duty last month.

As groups of diners filed into the warmth of a building at the Cheyenne County Fairgrounds to eat, 65 runners and walkers were covering 5 kilometers on the sunny but brisk morning.

Between both events, $7,400 was raised to help Deuel County Deputy Mike Hutchinson as he continues to recover from his injuries.

"I was very pleased with the turnout," said Cheyenne County Sheriff's Office Chief Deputy Fred Wiedeburg, who helped organize the benefit.

On Friday, Wiedeburg and sheriff John Jenson talked with Hutchinson on the phone.

"We called him the night prior, and he just said that the support is overwhelming," Wiedeburg said, "and he was humbled by the fact we'd take the time to do his."

Later this week, Wiedeburg said he and the sheriff will likely personally deliver the funds to Hutchinson.

Every penny raised on Saturday will go to the deputy and his family.

"Our goal the whole time was to have 100 percent of the funds go to the family," Wiedeburg explained. "We didn't buy t-shirts, we didn't buy prizes. This was a benefit and we wanted all the money to go to the family."

Last week, Jenson said numerous businesses had contributed donations for the benefit.

Wiedeburg said the community support was tremendous.

"Here in the Panhandle, it's good to see the citizens stand behind law enforcement," he said. "We're here for them, and they're there for us."