Duct-Tape Derby to highlight annual St. Pat's Fall Festival

Someone will be duct-taped to the wall in St. Patrick's School gym on Sunday. Who that will be depends on the person who receives the most votes or more specifically -- the most money.

The duct-tape derby is part of St. Pat's annual Fall Festival, which begins Saturday with a dinner in the church basement and concludes with the drawing for the raffle. The candidates for the derby are Father Harlan Waskowiak, Steve Stein, Jerry Calvin, Paul Wood, Don Loecker and Rich Barnett.

Money to vote for the candidates can be dropped off at the school and jars will be available during the festival up until 3 p.m. Sunday. Jars also are set up at McCook National, Wells Fargo, AmFirst and First Central banks, Top Office Products, McDonalds, Southwest Implement, Brown's Shoe Fit, McCook Pharmacy and Farrell's Pharmacy, at the McCook Radio Group office on North U.S. Highway 83, Coyote Country/The Prairie and Sehnert's Bakery. The highest vote getter will be taped (off the floor) to the wall.

Father Gary Brethour said the duct-tape derby was conceived as a unique fund-raiser and a fun way to end the festival. Other events at the Fall Festival include the ice cream social and dinner Saturday evening from 7 to 9:30 p.m. and includes BBQ pork sandwiches and sloppy joes. The first night concludes with several rounds of bingo.

On Sunday, dinner again will be served in the church basement from noon to 2 p.m. with turkey and ham. A concession stand serving hamburgers will be open all afternoon in the church parking lot.

Games for kids of all ages will be taking place around the school grounds. Back this year are the live pony rides and the craft booth. Also from noon to 4 p.m., the silent auction will be running and the oral auction will begin at 2:30 p.m.

Raffle tickets with a grand prize of two Nebraska tickets to the Colorado game will be available up until the drawing at 4 p.m. on Sunday.

St. Pat's Fall Festival is one of its biggest fund-raisers of the year with all proceeds going toward the working of the parish and the school, Brethour said.

He noted that the event is open to everyone in the community and "it's a fun time to get together."

So how long will the "lucky" person will be taped to the wall? While there is no set time limit, Brethour has an idea in mind: "Until we get bored."