Given the recent developments in his life, the involvement of Joey Ries at Saturday’s 2009 DeSoto County Let’s Move Together Arthritis Walk in Southaven
was especially noteworthy. “My wife and I just had triplets,” said Ries, of Hernando, “so they’re still in the hospital. I’ve got a little free time right now.” Free time spent for a good cause at Saucier Park, which would have had more than its share of eager walkers had it not been for a steady downpour of rain. Despite the rain, Sibonie Swatzyna (left) and her nephew, Nicholas Pegram, 6, both of Southaven, make a go of it during the 2009 DeSoto County Let’s Move Together Arthritis Walk in Saucier Park on Saturday. “We had a lot of stuff planned. It just couldn’t happen today,” said Erin Wehrly, the DeSoto community director for the Tennessee chapter of the Arthritis Foundation. “We had a moon bounce, all sorts of fun things, but the rain kind of put a damper on that.” It would have been the second annual event in Southaven. In 2008, sunshine prevailed, and just under $20,000 was raised. “We’re still going to consider this year a success,” executive director Ashley McCurrach said. “We’ve had great support from the community again, and just because we have a little bit of rain, it’s still amazing to see people come out and want to be a part of this.”
Of course, there were just more than men, women and children in attendance. Several dogs made their way underneath the pavilion, including Waverly the Dalmatian and Dzimby, a Newfoundland mix.