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Anchors ahoy! The 2018 Ice Off Contest officially begun

Tickets on sale to guess the date the ice will melt
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The M.V. Lion sits with her flag proudly flying during a previous year’s Ice Off Contest. Tickets for the contest are on sale now. File photo.

The 108 Lions Club have officially kicked off the 2018 Ice Off Contest.

This was originally started in 2002 by Graham Allison who salvaged a small boat headed for the dump. He did some modifications to it, making it so that when the anchor falls through the ice, the clock is stopped and a flag goes up.

“Part of the fun is that the guys get to go out and rebuild the boat every year,” says Lions Club spokesperson Peggy Archer, adding that the boat has had some work done to it this year.

Tickets are sold heading into spring, with each person being able to guess a date for when the flag will drop.

To buy a ticket, head to the 108 Mile Supermarket, the 108 Mile Gas Station, and the Lac la Hache Bakery.

Tickets are $2 each, and this year there will be six prizes going to the lucky winners — the first being $200 cash.

Proceeds from the event go to help various community events.

The winter seems to be lasting a long time this year, so there may be yet some time before the anchor drops and the flag goes up.

”The anticipation on when it is going to go is part of the fun,” says Archer.

Previous dates as to when the flag has gone up are March 31, 2017 and April 9, 2013.