BATESBURG-LEESVILLE, SC (WIS) - The mayor and fire chief of a small Midlands town are joining together to raise money for a sick child whose money, police say, was stolen by the head of the PTO.
Last week, police charged 34-year-old Tonya Timmerman, the president of the parent-teacher organization at Batesburg-Leesville Primary School with stealing thousands of dollars from two school PTO accounts, including money meant for students who are battling cancer.
One of those kids is 6-year-old Ryan Boldt. He is battling leukemia.
The town's mayor, Jim Wiszowaty, says Batesburg-Leesville has a plan to help. "We saw what she'd done or allegedly done and wanted to pull together and get his money back," said Wiszowaty.
The plan is to hold a barbeque fundraiser in Ryan's honor in October. The mayor will supply the chicken and the fire chief, Tommy Shealy, will supply all the fixings.
The goal is to raise at least $12,000 in hopes what was lost will soon be found -- all in good taste. "We can promise 'em one of the best barbecue chickens, green beans from Shealy's, a roll and a plate for ten dollars," said the mayor.
Wiszowaty says if you just want to donate money to the cause, you can just stop in at Town Hall or his nearby restaurant, Wiz's Place.
Timmerman is charged with two counts of breach of trust, one with fraudulent intent between $2k and $10K and the other in excess of $10k and was released on $50,000 bond. She is expected back in court in September.
Related story:
PTO chief charged with embezzling thousands of dollars
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Ryan Boldt
Tonya Timmerman (Source: Batesburg-Leesville Police Department)
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