Chamber duck race is Saturday
The reorganized Onaway Area Chamber of Commerce continues to get ready for the return of the duck race at the Crockett Rapids Bridge.
There will be two races involving 500 plastic ducks priced at $5 apiece and 60 large decoy ducks at $50 apiece.
Organizers will be taking the numbered ducks one-quarter of a mile upstream, where they’ll all be dropped in the Black River at one time, with the small ducks going first.
Chamber members had a few ducks left for the race, which is set for Saturday at 3 p.m.
THE DUCKS will be monitored by workers who will move along with them to make sure they don’t get caught in tree branches or brush.
If that happens, workers will free the duck and let it continue down stream.
He said ideally, the fireworks should be paid for by Christmas and that has not been possible in recent years. Having funding available earlier takes pressure off Onaway Fire chief Eric Rose, who has to order thousands of dollars in fireworks, Chapman said.
WITH MORE funding in place, questions about how much the city can spend on fireworks will hopefully be a concern of the p
Chamber president LeeAnn Neelis said “sales have been good.”
The Crockett Rapids Bridge has seen upwards to 100 people on hand to watch the finish of the race, Chapman said.
To determine a winner, chicken wire is used to narrow down an opening to one foot, with the first three ducks through the opening winning cash prizes.
A special event permit from the Department of Natural Resources had to be obtained to conduct the race on the river.
The person with the first small duck across the finish line wins $300, while the super duck winner takes home $500.
The “lame duck” prize in the super duck category is for the last duck to cross the finish line and will earn a person their money back.