OPP, Ala. (WTVY) – The Opp Police Department, EMS and Fire Department are all hands on deck this weekend for one of their busiest times of the year. Officers even team up with Covington County Sheriff’s deputies to provide safety for the community, artists and handlers.
The city of Opp budgets for the overtime each weekend of the Rattlesnake Rodeo and people like Police Chief Kevin Chance meet with the committee monthly to determine the best safety plan.
Meanwhile, Mizell Memorial Hospital and the Opp Fire Department are tag-teaming the load for health precautions. The hospital interim chief executive officer Lori Stanfield said, “We are staffed and ready in our ER for Rattlesnake Rodeo every weekend. We’re used to it.”
The hospital’s chief operating officer uses it as a good time to show off the city.
“So we have had people from all over the Tri-State area who have heard about the Rattlesnake Rodeo but have never been to Opp. We really encourage them to come because once they come, they want to come back,” said Brennen Bowen.
Chief Chance says his team won’t be able to enjoy the Rodeo until it is complete and are certain everyone is home and safe.
“For the last several years, we have not had any incidents, everybody has been real pleasant. Our enjoyment is meeting new people, meeting people from out of town,” said Chief Chance.
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