Duck race money awarded
By MEGAN THOMAS
Express Staff Writer
Greg Sage accepts a check on behalf of Blaine County Search and Rescue from duck race chairperson Heidi Ottley and Rotary president Peter Strommel.
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Each and every year of the last eight years, 25,000 bright yellow ducks have become an integral part of the Wagon Days celebration. The rubber ducks play an important role in the Wood River Valley generating funds for scholarships, projects and organizations in the valley.
This year the efforts of Rotary members generated nearly $90,000 at The Great Wagon Days Duck Race held in Ketchum's Rotary Park over Memorial Day Weekend. Of the money raised the Ketchum Sun Valley Rotary received $32,000 and Hailey Rotary received $24,000, which will be used for scholarships and other projects in the valley. The clubs also donated $32,000 to the Blaine County Search and Rescue. Through an additional donation at the race, Rotary will also offer a $5,000 for a scholarship in memory of Matt Alban, a 2003 graduate of Wood River High School.
"We fill in the gaps where others fall short," Heidi Ottley, Rotarian and chairman of the duck race, said.
On Tuesday, Nov. 16 Lt. Greg Sage of Blaine County Search and Rescue accepted a check on behalf of the organization from the Ketchum Sun Valley Rotary. The funds comprise the majority of the organization's budget. Of this year's budget, the organization received $8,000 from the county.
Last year the Blaine County Search and Rescue received $22,500 from Rotary. Of that money, $10,000 went to pay for helicopters in the Jim Woodyard search. $5,000 aided in the search for Tom Wernig on Bald Mountain. The money enables the search and rescue team to call in the resources they see necessary for a search, such as helicopters.
Other money went to purchase an ATV and trailer and to equip a mobile command center.
Throughout the years the funds have also enabled Blaine County Search and Rescue to become a nationally certified search and rescue team.
"When we first started out we were a rag-tag search and rescue crew. Now we are the only nationally certified unit in the state," Sage said.
Sage has been involved with the Duck Race from the beginning.
"The night before the first race I couldn't sleep. I didn't know what 20,000 ducks in the water would be like. I get put in a lot of stressful situations, but 20,000 ducks in the Big Wood—I couldn't imagine," Sage remarked.
Likely Sage also did not imagine the funds The Duck Race would generate for Blaine County Search and Rescue and others in the valley.
