Tina Kennedy High Prairie Times It was over in a matter of minutes, six minutes to be more precise and Vivien Torrens’ duck in the third annual Duck Race was the first across the finish line. High Prairie Beautification committee members, Ducks Unlimited organizers and the High Prairie Fire Department was on hand at the West Prairie River to dump the ducks, and wait at the finish line. It didn’t take as long as many imagined it would. In the first year, it took hours—many hours. Organizers called other areas to see how races were called because the rubber ducks simply didn’t want to make their way across the finish line. In the end, they gathered the ones closest to the finish line to make the final call. That wasn’t an issue Sept. 4. Putting the starting line further up river and breaking down a beaver dam seems to have done the trick, says Tammy Kaleta, one of the event’s organizers. The end result is great because 10 individuals and one company go home with great prizes. Torrens wins a 42 inch plasma Panasonic Viero, donated by Basarab’s House of Furniture. Second place was Vivian Willier who wins the Robert Bateman print; third place was Dale Booth’s duck and he goes home with a 72 piece Ducks Unlimited flatware set. Joyce Dvornek got fourth place and wins a leather chair for her $5 winning ticket. Roseanne Ochran got fifth and gets a Dewalt Power Pack estimated at $700. Calvin Vick won the his and her watches valued at $400. Wade Sekulich won seventh at the Ducks Unlimited Retro Cruiser Bike. GEM won eight place and wins the Puppy Print and Keepsake Box. Darrin Backs gets ninth and the First Love Bronze Horse Sculpture. David Laughlin won 10th place and the Kestrel Medallion Sculpture. Linda Desjarlais won 11th place and wins the Egyptian theme room for one night. This year’s event, like past years, had the opportunity to raise almost $10,000 that is in turn put back into the community in various projects. Organizers would like to thank everyone for their support and coming out to see the race, making it such an enjoyable event.