Silent auction to raise funds for deputy

Twenty-seven year old detention officer Alexander Matlaga is currently hospitalized in the last stages of terminal cancer. Fellow Sheriff’s Office personnel plan to auction several pieces of art online to help pay Matlaga’s medical expenses.

Capt. Bruce Bley, one of Matlaga’s co-workers, is an artist. Bley has donated several pieces of pottery to be auctioned. Bley also asked several fellow artists to contribute pieces for the fundraiser. So far, approximately 40 pieces from a variety of artists have been donated.

Photos of the auction art will be posted next week on the Barrow County Sheriff’s Office website, http://barrowsheriff.com/, along with a short description of each piece. Bids for the items may be placed online. On Thursday, Sept. 23, the pieces will be on display at Constance Manor from 9 a.m. until bidding ends at 4 p.m.

For more information, contact Sandra Mingus at 770-307-3080 ext. 3098 or Capt. Bruce Bley at 770-527-8366.