Belmont Correctional Institution warden Shelbie Smith collects a donation for the American Heart Association from Special Response Team corrections officer Ian Warren, with Belmont County Sheriff James Zusack to her left.

ST. CLAIRSVILLE – The Belmont Correctional Institution and Belmont County Sheriff’s Office have teamed up to raise money for the American Heart Association at the Ohio Valley Mall.

Warden Shelbie Smith is also a Woman of Impact for the Ohio Valley Heart Association. She said that Wednesday was supposed to see BCI’s Special Response Team and the Sheriff’s Office’s Special Operations Branch go head to head in a shooting competition. Due to the snow and cold temperatures the event had to be postponed until the summer.

“The sheriff contacted me and said, ‘Hey, we’re going to have to postpone, but can we do something together anyway? I’ll bring out my team, you bring out your team and we’ll hit the mall and try to raise some funds for the American Heart Association,'” Smith said.

Sheriff James Zusack added that due to the type of shooting the competition would require, it was virtually impossible to do in the current weather conditions.

“Today was supposed to be the competition, but with the snow we got from Mother Nature, it was almost impossible to do that today. We are trying to reschedule that event, and hopefully it’s gonna be sometime in May or June. We don’t know a date yet,” he said. “We decided to come out to the mall and try to raise some money.”

Zusack added that both teams have received warm receptions not only from shoppers but the businesses inside the mall.

“So far, all of the businesses we’ve gone to have treated us very well, and I really appreciate that,” Zusack said. “Shout out to the businesses of the mall and [Ohio Valley Mall property manager] George Diab for letting us use the mall itself to help raise money for the American Heart Association.”

Smith said this was the first time for the event, but she is hopeful that it will be the inaugural event of a new annual tradition.

Both Smith and Zusack agreed that community involvement is crucial to both of their organizations and Wednesday’s fundraising efforts are just part of a list of countless community engagement events in which both organizations take part.

“Being a part of the community is very important. Being present and being out there showing them that the corrections institution along with the sheriff’s office cares about the people and we want to give back to the community is very important for us,” Smith said.

Zusack said he is very much looking forward to the shooting competition this summer.

“It’s nice because we all don’t get together that often, so it’s nice to hang out with these guys,” he said. “We’re all looking forward to the shooting competition for bragging rights, in a sense of which team will be the best shot.”

Zusack added that March is very unpredictable when it comes to the weather so he agrees with the decision to push back the competition until summer.

“I know one thing: you have a very safe mall right now,” Zusack joked.

In addition, to accepting donations raffle tickets were sold to win various prizes.