Make way for Grand Shannon.

The Bluffton Sportsmen's Club 67th annual trout derby, held Sunday, May 1, will honor the village sesquicentennial by naming its number one tagged ground "Grand Shannon."This year's derby has over $4,000 in cash and prizes on tagged trout.

Icon viewers had a hand in naming this year's fish. The Sportsmen's Club invited The Icon to poll viewers on four suggested names for this year's tag number 1. Icon viewers chose "Grand Shannon."

This year's derby, at the Buckeye Quarry, is from 2 to 4:30 p.m. Persons wanting to fish in the derby need a sportsmen's membership.

Those memberships are on sale at Family Hardware, derby headquarters, and at the Buckeye on derby Sunday. Memberships are also on sale in advance at Kibbee's Carryout and Ted's Market, Pandora.

Memberships are $10 for youth through age 13 and $30 for persons 14 and older. Several other events take place at this year's trout derby.
Bluffton Boy Scouts and Cub Scouts will hold a concession stand in the shelter house at the Buckeye beginning at 8 a.m. and running throughout the day.

A chicken barbecue by Ted and Don's (Ted's Market, Pandora), will begin serving at 11 a.m. Dinners will be available at the Sportsmen's Club depot. Persons may eat in or buy for take out.

Meals are $7 each and include one-half barbecue chicken, green beans, potato salad and a roll.

Sportsmen's Club officers are Tom Augsburger, president; Ryan Motter, vice president; Ron Schmutz, treasurer; and Andy Herrmann, secretary.

Club directors are Sid Sloce, Jerry Edinger, Mark Zimmerman, Lucas Herrmann, Ron Neidemire, Dale Neidemire, Keith Zimmerman, Tony Pinks, Wilbur Bracy, George McCune, Roger Hoffman, John Beach, Greg Moser and Dennis Kagy.

Last year's trout number 1 was snagged during derby hours by Ray Victory of Rawson. He won $957, which was one half the value of the trout.

Persons wanting additional information on the derby may visit the club website at www.blufftonsportsmensclub.com, on Facebook under Bluffton Community Sportsmen's Club or via e-mail at: [email protected].