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28th Annual Malta Walleye Banquet this Saturday at City Hall

Once a year, for the past 27 years, the annual fish fry and all around good time known as the Malta Walleyes Unlimited Banquet has been held in this fine city and this Saturday, March, 25, the 28th installment of the event will be held inside the gymnasium at Malta City Hall.

"And don't dilly-dally about get ting your tickets, either," Malta Walleye President John Demarais warned (kidded.) "People should expect all their usual favorite parts of the night, but we will be adding some new stuff to keep the event fresh too."

The "usual" will include, of course, pounds and pounds of fish, baked beans, buns, coleslaw, both red and tarter sauces, beverages galore and Cora's World Famous Potatoes. Also included in the festivities will be fish races, children games, 50-50 split the pot, three guns and a gun case will be had via the card raffles, a separate raffle which features a fish quilt, a 40-inch TV and a rifle. Per the norm, bucket raffles will be spread across the gym, KMMR's Greg Kielb will be the event's MC and Cliff Rustad will lend his voice to the raffles.

"We also have two special awards to give out this year along with the scholarships and the young angler's awards," President Demarais said. "We also have some nice silent auction items including a Walleye Watch, a knife with a sheath, a Kindle Fire Tablet and some really nice jewelry. We will also have a propane ice auger as an auction item. It is really nice."

The money raised at the Malta Walleyes Unlimited Banquets over the years has gone to cover a slew of projects in Phillips County. In recent years, money raised at the banquet – along with the help of the Malta Kiwanis -- has gone to help pay for scholarships, young angler awards, the two 'take a kid' fishing events held (one inthe winter and the other in the summer) as well as the footbridge near the park on South 12th Street East in Malta. Last year, the Malta Walleye's took advantage of Nelson Reservoir being partially drained and work was done to extend the North Ramp.

"We used a big share of our Walleye Funds to extend that north ramp," Demarais said. "We had four other (Walleye) chapters who contributed and the State also contributed. This year, we will be hosting Camp Walleye this summer, maybe a little bit of a longer journey than in previous years. Nothing has really been decided on yet. The money we raise is used for the betterment of the community and its youth."

To purchase tickets or ask questions about the night, people are encouraged to call Demarais at 301-1075 or Don Voegel at 390-1708. Tickets can also be purchased at Westside Sports. The doors at Malta City Hall will open at 5 p.m., a no-host happy hour will start at 6 p.m. and dinner will start at 7 p.m.

"Malta Walleyes Unlimited was started by a group of anglers who hoped to improve the walleye fishing in the county," President Demarais added. "I have been to most of the first 27 events, though I missed one or two. I hope everyone comes out and has a great night. Our motto is take a kid fishing and we don't care if the kid is eight or 80."

 

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