Fishing Derby nets big crowd

DECATUR - Area anglers, young and old, turned out for the 10th Annual Community Fishing Derby held at Crystal Lake on June 15.

The event was part of the Big Fisherman/Little Fisherman Community Fishing Program of the Decatur Assembly of God.

Children, ages 1 through 14, cast out their lines hoping to reel in the big one.

All children who participated won a prize whether they caught a fish or not.

For the angler who landed the biggest fish, the grand prize was a ride in a Cessna 177 Cardinal airplane piloted by Mike Mitchell, owner of OceanPools in Gentry. This year’s winner was 12-year-old Noah Cartwright.

Cartwright, along with his father and younger brother, took a 25 minute flight that departed Crystal Lake Airport and toured the Decatur area. For Cartwright, this was his first airplane ride and, judging from his big grin, it was a memorable one.

The Community Fishing Derby was sponsored by Decatur Assembly of God, Walmart, Ocean Pools, Allens, Nestle, Arkansas Game and Fish Commission, city of Decatur and Crystal Lake Airport.

Event organizer Nickie Smith expressed his gratitude to all the volunteers who helped make this year’s Community Fishing Derby a big success.

Community, Pages 9 on 06/19/2013