Dollars for Scholars Sturgeon Derby to be held May 31

Reserve the date - May 31. That is the day when the annual Dollars for Scholars Sturgeon Derby, Barbecue and Rod and Reel Car Show will be held at the Wahkiakum County Fairgrounds in Skamokawa.

It will be a day full of entertainment and food, and all proceeds will go to support scholarships for students of the two area high schools.

The fund-raising event established to fund student scholarships for students from the Wahkiakum and Naselle-Grays River Valley High Schools is organized by the Wahkiakum Dollars for Scholars and the Naselle-Grays River Valley Education Foundation with support from eight gold level sponsors, 12 silver level sponsors and scores of smaller contributors of merchandise and services.

The day begins with all derby entrants trying to catch a legal sturgeon to enter in the derby. While the fishing is taking place, the Fairgrounds will open at 9 a.m. with a free kids trout pond (for kids 12 and under), a dart board, and for the car show held in the Grange building and on the field behind the Fairgrounds. Raffle tickets will be sold throughout the day for an array of prize packages that will be on display in the fair and Grange buildings. The Naselle Schools Marimba Band will entertain from 2-3 p.m.

Starting at noon, with serving continuing until 4:30 p.m., a salmon and chicken barbecue dinner will be served at a cost of $8 for adults and $5 for children 10 and under.

The weigh-in for one legal sturgeon caught and entered by each successful angler will be held from 1:30- 4 p.m. Prizes will be awarded by random drawings for all legal sturgeon entered. Those prizes, as well as the awarding of raffle prizes, and a live auction of many donated items will be held beginning at 4:30 p.m.

Registration forms for the sturgeon derby are available at several area businesses or may be secured by writing: Wahkiakum Dollars for Scholars, P.O. Box 498, Cathlamet, WA 98612, or by calling (360) 849-4257; or go to the website: http//www.wahkiaku- mchamber.com/sturgeonderby&bbq.htm.

The adult entry fee for fishing in the derby is $35 which includes a T-shirt and the BBQ dinner if entry is postmarked by May 16. The cost for children, 16 and under, to enter the derby is $15 with the same stipulations. Registrations may be made until May 29 and dropped off at The Bank of the Pacific in Cathlamet or at the Cathlamet Chevron station, but no T-shirt will be guaranteed for the later registrations.