Lauren Suddeth and Smokey Bear at the Lookouts Game

An Idol meets an Idol.

Thanks to my friends with the TN Div of Forestry for most of these great pictures.

The Tennessee Division of Forestry and the Cherokee National Forest teamed up with the Chattanooga Lookouts (the AA affiliate of the Los Angeles Dodgers) for Wildfire Prevention Night in southeast Tennessee. 

Smokey was already positioned behind home plate awaiting his opportunity to make his way to the pitchers mound to throw out a ceremonial first pitch before the game when the crowd suddenly came to life.

 Miss Suddeth's limo and entourage had arrived outside the stadium.  Once security was in place, she was escorted into the stadium by Chattanooga police and then walked by herself down the side of the field directly into the arms of Smokey Bear.  

As you might expect, the crowd went wild, the media had a field day and it was a great night for everyone including those of us working in fire prevention.
 
I suspect that this event may get a few seconds of national attention on Wednesday night when the program airs once again.
 

If any of you who are receiving this email have the ability to record the program at home, I would certainly enjoy receiving a copy of the segment of the program featuring Miss Suddeth's appearance at the stadium with Smokey.

 
Saturdays appearance by Smokey and our prevention team is not the only exposure for this year.  Throughout the season we have a full page ad in each game program plus prevention messages in place to be broadcast over one or more local radio stations and over the PA system during games.