ee THEY DON'T HAVE impress 2, sant A at ype au ive pedigrees, but these ducks have a proud race ° history as part of the Riverboat Days Rotary fundraiser. Randy Smith is chief duck keeper and he keeps them safe till race day August 2. Drifting to the finish line OVER 5,000 yellow rubber duckies will be unleashed on the Skeena River for the ad- venture of their short plastic lives. The ducks will be dropped from a helicopter Aug. 4 as part of the annual Riverboat Day Rotary fundraiser. Chief organizer Randy Smith admits that it’s. an elaborate way to do a draw, but says it’s also a great way to attract people to the lottery. “T’s more than just a draw, i's a com- munity event,’ he explained, adding that they generally raise about $18,000. This year, half the money will go towards buying, equipment for the Mills Memorial Hospital operating room. The other half will go towards upgrading the Rotary ball park. The rubber ducks will be carried by a Ca- nadian Helicopters pilot and dropped into the river just north of the new bridge. .. ducks to cross the, finish line at. the end of Ferry Island. Only three of the lagged ducks will be considered winners but five are gathered as_ back-ups, explained Smith. A Caribbean cruise for two worth about $4,500 will go to the person with the win- ning duck. The second and third prizes are also worth ruffling your feathers over, Two one-ounce gold bars worth approxi- mately $1,000 and a $500 shopping spree at Safeway go to the runners up. ‘Ty's quite a spectacle,” said Smith, ad- ding that the ducks tend to have their own goals in mind. The remaining rubber ducks will be scooped up with nets by boals, leaving some stray ones to beachcomber kids. “This year has been a little tense,” Smith said about the slow duck adaption rate. One duck is worth §5 and a flock of five goes for $20. _.. , (If you spring fora family of ducks you'll A rescue boat will pick, up the first five " even get a canvass ball cap. market from a Rotary member or during the Riverboat Days parade. “You can buy the ducks at the farmers | Screamers shot into the THE NIGHT sky will be alight with purple, red and yellow explosions for the annual Riverboat Days fireworks. You can gaze at these cx- ploding stars this Saturday night when the Terrace and Thomhill Fire departments set them off. ‘"£ you live up on the bench you can just watch them from your living room window,’’ said Terrace volunteer fire — fighter Shaunce Kruisselbrink. Kruisselbrink will be or- chestrating this year’s ex- plosions on Ferry Island. Another spot to sky gaze is on the old bridge that will be closed to vehicle traffic for the occasion. But don’t expect to see a $105,000 light show chore- ographed to Wagner's Ride of the Valkyrie, but instead a modest $4,500 ome, ex- plained Kruisselbrink. The money comes partly from the Riverboat com- mittee aud partly from a grant from the city. The fireworks will vary from two to six inches in diameter and will pop, scream and blast their way into the night sky. The six inch fireworks can reach as high as 500-feet and will explode ina variety of sky acrobatics. ‘There will be lois of lights and lots of noise,”’ laughed Kruisselbrink. He’s the only pemson in Terrace. who’s qualificd to light the fireworks. “Once you say yes, you're stuck there for the rest of your life,’? be joked about his eight years of doing what he calls ‘“‘the grunt work,”’ Kmisselbrink took a full day course on fireworks safety that qualifies him to _ set them off. *¢¥ou have to know what you're playing wilh. The mortar shells that will point the fireworks towards at 4641 Keith Avenue, Terrace. PLUS B.C. AUTOMOTIVE 2ND ANNUAL GIANT SHOW & SHINE S iiam - 4pm. SUNDAY AUG. 3rd at the B.C. Automotive 1 ag UAP/NAPA parking lot with vehicles you'll see at the Riverboat Days ma Drag Races and much much more including Famous BBQ George's” |. VOLUNTEER fire fighter Shaunce Kruisselbrink will set the night sky aflame for the annual Riverboat Days fireworks. Blast off is at 11 p.m. on Saturday. Four fire fighters will light ‘The fireworks will begin the Fireworks and they will at around 11 p.m. on Satur- all wear their safety fire day. If it’s raining the gear and ear plugs. fireworks will be postponed. ihe sky have to be buried half way into the ground, so the sandy shores on Ferry Isiand are an ideal location. 3 B.C. AUTOMOTIVE & UAP/NAPA RACING Bg TOGETHER TO SERVE YOU BETTER. B.C. Automotive and UAP/NAPA have joined forces under one roof to serve all of our customers with a full line of Auto Services and Parts all Burgers (Donations to Local non-profit organizations). WEEDLENOSE JAS REGULAR aS WIFE. CUTTERS HARD WIRECUTTERS 7 ~{ Pocket Survival Tooi Special with its 25 year guarantee $ y4 95 BEST CAR BEST TRUCK BEST CLASSIC BEST STREET ROD BEST 1/4 MILER PEOPLES CHOICE 4641 Keith Avenue, Terrace, AUTOMOTIVE & INDUSTRIAL S "AUTO PARTS & SERVICE CENTR B.C. + 635-6334 | al i i a |