'Inmates' raise bail for babies

A restaurant's conversion into a jail Tuesday meant more than bread and water for the inmates, with the hoosegow chow served up by B'Sghetti's during the March of Dimes Jail and Bail fund-raiser.

About 65 "jailbirds" gave up a portion of their afternoon to take to the phones in an effort to raise the suggested "bail" of $1,000 and in return received a meal courtesy of B'Sghetti's.

Bobby Thind, owner of the Frontier Motel, was carted off from his business by a member of the Carson City Mounted Posse at 11:30 a.m.

Thind, 30, said he was happy to help raise money.

"It's for the kids," he said, shrugging off his contribution as no big deal. "Plus if you help somebody, God blesses everyone."

The food and accommodations were donated to March of Dimes by B'Sghetti's and cell phones were on loan at no charge from Verizon and Sprint.

An estimated $23,800 was raised for the cause. It was the second time the March of Dimes held the fund-raiser in Carson City.

"Pretty lucrative, especially in today's economy," said Shelly Young, March of Dimes community director. "I was pleased with the turnout, but more than that, I was pleased with the enthusiasm. Everyone was smiling."

Ambassador child Nathan Davis, 4, who as a premature baby benefited from the March of Dimes, showed up with his mother, Kathy Davis, turning over the $14.51 in his piggy bank. His mom raised an additional $1,000.

"People do this simply because they want to. It's a great thing," Young said.