The Troup County Sheriff’s Office will hold the annual Troup County Top Shot this morning at 9 a.m. Event organizer and TCSO office manager Joy Burnham said the event was created to bring local public safety agencies and the community together along with donating the proceeds to Relay for Life.

“When [Sheriff James Woodruff] first took office over five years ago, we wanted a way to build a relationship with all the other public safety agencies in the county. There used to be a TV show called ‘Top Shot,’” Burnham said. “I thought it was awesome and thought ‘why don’t we do that at [the TCSO’s Firing Range] and invite LaGrange Police, LaGrange Fire, the Troup County Correctional Institute, [Georgia State Patrol], and Troup County Fire Department and all the public safety people in this whole county and have something fun based on that TV show and have all the receipts go Relay for Life?’”

Burnham said $2,000 was raised for the Relay for Life last year.

This is the third year the office is holding the event, she said. One of the changes this year is they are increasing the number of civilians for the spectator shoot.

“Last year we started a spectator shoot and that was almost more popular than Top Shot. This year, we’re going to bump it up to the first 15 spectators that come,” she said. “For $10, you can shoot somebody else’s gun, you can make stuff blow up, spew out, pour out and you don’t have to clean it up.”

About 16 public safety officials will face off in five stages with the spectator competitions between each stage, Burnham said.

At the end of it all, the police chiefs from Hogansville and LaGrange will have a top shot contest with the sheriff to see who is the best shooting agency head. This year, there will be a perpetual trophy for the agency, Burnham said.

“We didn’t really do a winner, the first year we did it we had them do blow guns and just silly things and (Hogansville police chief) Brian Harr won,” she said. “This year were going to do a perpetual trophy. I didn’t want any animosity between a chief and a sheriff, but now this is their third year and they enjoy it, and I thought well they know we can have a champion and it’s not going to affect their relationships.”

Last year Lagrange police officer Brian Brown won the competition, Burnham said. Matt Lindsey from the TCSO won the first year with the corrections institute, she said.

Burnham said people should go to the event to connect with the public agencies.

“If you get to know public safety people, then you realize we’re just like [everyone else] and you can have fun with them. We’re people,” she said.

Burnham said it’s $2 for spectators and the TCSO’s firing range is located at 2525 Hamilton Road.

If you would rather spend the weekend reading a good book, the Friends of the LaGrange Memorial Library is holding the Mage Book Sale today from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. You can fill a paper bag full of books for $5.

Southern Charm will be serving apple cider and different types of soup for its overflowing with thankfulness and blessings day. Bring some canned goods to donate to Harmony House Domestic Violence Shelter and be entered into a drawing for a $75 gift certificate at the store.

If you would rather listen to music, Pure Life Studios will host Sarah Potenza today at 7:30 p.m. Admission is $20 and doors open at 6:30 p.m.