More than 120 kids and their parents took to the Montesano High School parking lot June 17 for the annual Bill Brookshire Memorial Bike Rodeo hosted by the Montesano police and fire departments.

The event is a way for the community to get to know their police and fire departments and see firsthand their efforts to keep the city’s youth safe while riding their bikes.

“It gives those primary skills in bike riding to kids who are going to be on their bikes a lot more in the summer months, and we hope by teaching them those skills they’re going to be safe when riding their bikes,” said Montesano Police Lt. Jay Staten.

Kids were encouraged to bring their bikes to the event so they could run through a safety course set up by the police department and to have their bikes checked for needed maintenance by the fire department.

Fire Chief Corey Rux and the fire department spent the afternoon checking bike mechanics and providing any necessary maintenance on the bikes before they could be safely ridden.

“For the most part we just did a once-over the vehicle to make sure it’s operating safely,” he said.

The once-over entailed checking brakes and oiling chains. Rux noted they took off three sets of training wheels, “which is pretty exciting,” he said.

The event, made possible by donations, pulled in more than $4,200 this year. Those funds went to setting up the event itself, but also provided for the 100-plus helmets given out to kids. The funds also helped to provide the 12 bikes that were raffled off at the event.