Nice ice - Dispatch Editorial

Many Brainerd area charities are counting cold weather among their holiday season blessings this year. Cold weather translates into thick ice which hopefully translates into a brisk advance ticket sale for the Jan. 17 Brainerd Jaycees Ice Fishing Extravaganza on Gull Lake.

Last year the Jaycees raised a record $206,000 for area charities including $145,000 for Confidence Learning Center, the service club's primary charity. Extravaganza organizers can remember more than one recent December when warmer than average temperatures created some uncertainty in the minds of anglers regarding whether the competition would be held or whether it might have to be delayed.

This year, consistently cold weather has eliminated those worries and created above-average advance ticket sales. With a little luck, the Jaycees might break their 12,197 attendance record from 2001.

More than $150,000 in cash and prizes will go to the anglers who catch the 150 largest fish. The first-place prize is a Ford F-150 4X4.

Each year it seems media interest in the Jaycees Extravaganza increases. Sporting News Radio broadcast its morning show from Gull Lake last year.

The Brainerd Jaycees Ice Fishing Extravaganza is an event like no other and something the entire community should take pride in. Anglers who would like to join in on the fun can find entry forms at area retail stores or receive more information by phoning (800) 950-9461 or looking up www.icefishing.org on the Internet.