Blessed by an ideal late summer morning, Lieutenant John Booker of the Whiteside County Sheriff’s Office stated on Saturday, September 9, 2017, “I’ve never seen the parking lot this full!” during the Sheriff’s Office and Mounted Patrol annual Youth Fishing Derby, at Morrison-Rockwood State Park. Chief Deputy Andy Henson reported 140 children had registered. That number was “down a bit” from last year he said.
Children ages 15 and under fished from 9:00 to 11:00 a.m. on the shore of Lake Carleton, near the Marina or across the lake. Throughout the morning, prizes were awarded. Special prizes were awarded for individual efforts:
- Shane Hurliss Award–Tiffany Greeley (age 12, Clinton, IA)
- Boy that Tried the Hardest–Cole Heald (age 9, Rock Falls)
- Girl that Tried the Hardest–Emma Holesinger (age 11, Fulton.)
Awards for biggest fish (by length) for each category are listed below. If no qualifying fish were caught in the category, a name was drawn from the list of participants that registered at least one fish. Fifteen children won a rod and reel, tackle box, and trophy.
|
Fish Species |
Ages 0-7 |
Ages 8-11 |
Ages 12-15
|
|
Largemouth Bass |
Ellie Tomman Age 3, Sterling |
Shealynn Henson Age 10, Sterling |
Tiffany Greeley Age 12, Clinton, IA
|
|
Crappie |
Grayson Johnston Age 6, Erie |
Breleigh Hayton Age 8, Fulton |
Brylee Kampe Age 12, Fulton
|
|
Catfish |
Bentley Halloway Age 5, Sterling |
Nicky Mills Age 11, Morrison |
Abbagail McClain Age 12, Morrison
|
|
Walleye/Musky |
Hudson Price Age 7, Fulton |
Gwen Huizenga Age 9, Clinton |
Sevannah Lucas Age 13, Sterling
|
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Bluegill/Sunfish
|
Lexi Sikkema Age 6, Lyndon |
Amelia Richmond Age 9, Morrison |
Dakota McClain Age 13, Morrison
|
At 11:00 competitors were called to the Marina Restaurant area. A half dozen bicycles would be awarded, ranging from two 16″ bikes to a 26″ mountain bike. Someone had chosen unique, vibrant colors: pink, lime, hot orange, fuchsia, turquoise, and green. After a drawing, six lucky Illinois participants received new bicycles.
Leighton Lopez (age 2, Morrison)
Halen Patton (age 4, Morrison)
Makenna Kampe (age 8, Fulton)
Dawson Price (age 9, Fulton)
Brylee Kampe (age 11, Fulton) and Joseph Howell (age 15, Sterling.)
Jim Melton, left, and Randy DeBouer are Sheriff’s Mounted Patrol members. They serve as “an auxiliary Police force,” explained Sergeant Seth Janssen, but are not often on horseback. They work as “security at the Whiteside County Fair and other carnivals, as well as major crime scenes where they secure the perimeter.” The Mounted Patrol assists “in search and rescue” missions and may bring their horse.
D. J. Sikkema fished with his daughter Alexis, age 6, and son, Ethan, 11, from a dock. Alexis would win the prize in her age group for longest Bluegill.
