PRESTON — The Franklin County Sheriff's Office is asking the community to participate in two upcoming fundraisers to help it raise money for a K-9 unit.

Elisa Gutierrez, the sheriff's deputy who will be the handler of the K-9, said the first fundraiser is a cornhole tournament that will be held at the Franklin County Events Center at 10 a.m. on Saturday, April 18.

"Cornhole is a huge part of our community," Gutierrez said. "We have a lot of people who love to participate."

Anyone who enters the tournament has the chance to win prizes if they win. The cost to enter is $20 per person. The Sheriff's Office will be handling all the food and drinks at the tournament.

"The Sheriff's Office is very involved," Gutierrez said. "Our priority is to be involved with the community."

Participants can preregister for the cornhole tournament through the Scoreholio app.

"The app has a bunch of cornhole events around the area," Gutierrez said. "You select which one to participate in."

The second fundraiser will be held at the Preston Golf and Country Club at 8 a.m. on Saturday, June 20. People will be able to sign up for this tournament online or at the golf course.

"It's going to be the same thing," Gutierrez said. "People will pay to enter and we'll have prizes for first, second and third place."

Tickets for the golf tournament will be $125 per team, and there will be teams of four. Lunch will be provided once the tournament is over.

"We're grateful to the community for helping us with this," Gutierrez said.

The Sheriff's Office hopes to raise $35,000 through these two fundraisers with the money going to purchase and train a K-9.  

Cuyler Stoker, Franklin County sheriff, said it has been a long time since the Sheriff's Office had a K-9 unit.

"Franklin County had a K-9 unit 15 years ago," Stoker said. "We have not had one in Franklin County since then and we're looking to bring one back."

The K-9 will perform several roles once it is acquired by the Sheriff's Office. Its main role will be narcotics, but it will also make appearances throughout the community.

"It will go to schools and community events," Gutierrez said. "We want it to be very involved with the community."

Stoker said the goal with the K-9 is to have it help detect narcotics, but the hope is that it will help the Sheriff's Office build positive relationships with community members, especially with children.

"The goal is to take the dog to elementary schools and have the kids love on it," Stoker said. "We want to have them see the dog and interact with it in a positive manner."

The Sheriff's Office hopes to have the K-9 unit ready for duty by the end of the summer. More information about the two fundraisers can be found on the Sheriff's Office's Facebook page.