WHITINGHAM- Under sunny skies and temperatures in the low 30s, the Whitingham Firemen’s Association held the fourth annual ice fishing derby on Saturday, January 19. Over 200 anglers of all ages fished through Lake Sadawga’s 12” ice for perch and pickerel. Prize money for the four heaviest fish in each category were sponsored by local businesses. In the pickerel category, the first place winner, Jorgen Sweeney took home $500. Second place went to Samantha Barkus ($300), third place to TJ Waiksnoris ($100), and fourth place to Eric Minalkowski ($50). In the perch category, first place went to Patrick Kearns ($500), second to TJ Waiksnoris ($300), third to Justin Fournier ($100), and fourth place winner Brandon Mattison took home $50. Lucas Dlubac, won $379 in a 50/50 raffle.

The Pete Maynard Award for an adult was a $50 gift certificate to Cabellas, won by Katelyn Janovsky. The Peter Maynard Award for youth $20 gift certificates at the derby age 10 and under went to Jorgen Sweeny, Lorelei Briggs, Thomas Waiksnoris, Daniel Betit, Alex Janovsky, Lucas Watkin, Callum Watkin, Aiden Bimmler, Taylor Cutler, and Caleb Betit.

On hand to address the crowd and hand out prizes and awards was derby organizer Stanley Janovsky, Whitingham Fire Department chief and president of the Whitingham Firemen’s Association. Janovsky thanked everyone for their participation and said “Funds raised from the past few years’ derbies helped the department purchase a snowmobile and an all-terrain vehicle to aid the department in off-road rescues and other emergencies.”