Shores wins DinoDuck Race

Some 400-rubber ducks meandered down Malta's stretch of the irrigation canal on Saturday afternoon as this year's DinoDuck Race came off without a hitch.

Anne and Kris Boothe let the ducks loose from the bridge on Central Ave/ Highway 191 bridge at 4 p.m. sharp and 45-minutes later, volunteers Dan "Boone" Lundstrom, Mark Boothe and Jason Snellman fished them out at the finish line with their nets. Bringing up the rear of the duck race – assuring no lame ducks were hung-up in the weeds and left behind – were Caleb Meisdalen and Julia Meisdalen in their kayaks.

Malta's Danny Shores had the winning duck and won himself $250. Dennis Broadbrooks of Malta had the second place duck and won $100 and Dale Kaasa, also of Malta, had the third place duck and won $50. Shores bought his first place duck at Westside Self Service earning that local business a $100 prize.

The Great Plains Dinosaur Museum's (GPDM) DinoDuck Race not only awarded prizes to the "fastest" ducks, but also those that brought up the rear. A total of four $25 prizes were awarded to Tammy McNamara, Shyla Bergos, John Rothie and Kraig Nordahl of Saco.

The traditional "duck boards", offering numbered ducks for adoption for the fee of $5 are available at most taverns and businesses in Malta. The dinosaur twist to the race is in honor of the Hadrosaur or "Duckbill Dinosaur", Montana's state fossil and locally discovered dinosaurs such as Leonardo, Roberta, Peanut, and Elvis.

Boothe said part of the reason for holding the race later in the summer this year, as opposed to First State Bank Car Show weekend, was there were so many events held in the first week of July. She said the delayed race date didn't affect the amount of ducks bought and thanked everyone who bought ducks to help support the GPDM.