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Tickets for the 10th Annual Park Rapids American Legion Community Fishing Contest Saturday, Feb. 2 are available now at 50 local businesses and many more within a 50-mile radius of Park Rapids as well as at the Legion Club.
Ticket holders not only can spend an afternoon angling through the ice on Fish Hook Lake in pursuit of a winning fish, but are eligible for dozens of other prizes whether they fish or not.
The contest is offering more than $110,000 in prizes this year with no more than 6,000 $30 tickets to be sold.
Unlike the past couple of years, there are no worries about the weather conditions, said Jerry Benham, derby chairman. "When was the last time we had a white Christmas?" he asked, welcoming a "real Minnesota winter."
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The 10th largest fish caught - in any division - wins an Ice Castle Fish House. The person selling the winning ticket receives $2,000.
The raffle grand prizewinner will drive home in a 2008 Dodge Ram four-wheel drive truck with $2,000 awarded to the seller of the winning truck ticket.
He or she who sells the most tickets also will be awarded $2,000.
Contest prizes are divided into raffle and fishing categories. All ticket holders will be eligible to win one of this year's 63 prizes, including two Polaris ATVs, cash, gift cards, fishing gear and a big screen TV.
In addition, drawings for tackle bags will be held on the ice every minute during the derby, which starts at 1 p.m. and ends at 3:30.
Anglers will be vying for a variety of prizes in four divisions.
Top prizes in Division I, bluegills and crappies, include a Polaris ATV, $400 cash and a portable fish house.
Prizes in Division II, northern, walleye and largemouth bass, include a Polaris ATV, fish house and $400 cash.
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Prizes in the perch division are a Bombardier ATV, $400 cash and Vexilar, among others.
Rock bass division winners can win a Bombardier ATV, $400 cash, $250 cash and other cash prizes.
A medallion treasure hunt will kick off the event Wednesday, Jan. 2 with prizes worth more than $1,000. Clues will appear in the Enterprise and will be posted at the Legion.
The 10th edition of Otto's Frosty Frozen 5K walk/run also is on Saturday, Feb. 2. Registration will start at 9 a.m. at the Legion with the race starting headquarters in the parking lot.
For more information, call Neil King at 652-2611.
The American Legion celebrates the winter weekend with other events, including a dinner and welcome dance Friday, Feb. 1, breakfast, lunch, awards presentation and Fisherman's Ball Saturday and a breakfast served by the Boy Scouts Sunday morning.
Volunteers are invited to an organizational meeting at 9 a.m. Saturday, Dec. 15 at the American Legion.
For more information, contact Benham at 732-9657 or 612-710-4610 or by e-mail at jbenham@unitelc.com or at American@unitelc.com .
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