– Photo courtesy of the Paducah Sun || Calvert City police officer Nick Spears, along with wife Amber and daughter Kylee, at a benefit concert held for the family on Saturday.

Spears family benefit concert held Saturday

More than $6,000 raised
to help family with expenses
during extended leave

By Jody Norwood
Tribune-Courier News Editor
jnorwood@tribunecourier.com


CALVERT CITY– With a neighbor, friend and coworker in need, support for an injured Calvert City Police officer continues to come in from around the area. The Spears Family Benefit Concert was held Saturday in Calvert City to raise funds for officer Nick Spears and family while he recovers from injuries sustained on-duty in May.

“The concert went really well,” said Vallery West who helped organize the event. West’s husband, Robby, is also a Calvert City Police officer and works alongside Spears. “We raised more than $6,000. A lot of generous people have helped with this process. I’m very thankful our community has pulled together in their time of need.”

Spears received multiple injuries on-duty May 29 while patrolling along the Purchase Parkway and Interstate 24. Near the interchange, Spears’ cruiser left the roadway and struck a tree. On Friday, Spears returned home after spending three weeks at Vanderbilt University Medical Center in Nashville, Tenn., and Lourdes in Paducah. Spears has begun rehabilitation, but is unable to return to work.

Spears’ wife, Amber, who is also a registered nurse at Lourdes, has taken an extended leave to help with her husband’s recovery. The couple also have a daughter, nine month old Kylee.

West said the money raised is going to help the family with day-to-day expenses until they are able to fully return to work.
“Hopefully, this will help take some stress off them,” West said. West said the goal behind the recent fundraisers was to keep the Spears family focused on recuperating and not worrying about bills.

Saturday’s event– which featured local musicians, water slides, inflatables and cook-outs– raised more than $6,000. Including other fundraisers, more than $10,000 has been raised for the family. A citation was also presented Saturday to James Brannon, a pizza delivery driver who discovered Spears following the wreck.

“Every time I see Amber and Nick they say how appreciative they are for everything that everyone is doing,” West said. “It means a lot. They’re just not the type of people to ask for help. They are so grateful.”

Robby West has continued to work on the spears home, finishing renovations begun by Nick before the accident and adding improvements to make it easier for the family. West and volunteers are still in need of some building materials or funds to purchase materials, such as a door and window.

“There’s still quite a bit to go,” Vallery West said. “There will be a Christian ramp-building ministry that be there tomorrow (Tuesday).”

West said a temporary ramp had been built for access to the home, but that a more permanent ramp would be built.

Fundraising will continue with a golf tournament at the Calvert City Country Club July 19. West said they are currently accepting hole sponsors and are getting information together for interested golfers.

For more information on the tournament, or to donate funds or supplies to the construction effort, phone West at 703-8591.