DUCK CATCHERS — Four volunteers armed with nets were charged with retrieving the first plastic ducks to reach the Wellsburg Wharf during the Wellsburg Kiwanis Club’s Duck Derby Sunday evening. The sponsors of the numbered ducks received one of several prizes during the event, which raised about $22,000 toward efforts to establish a splash pad at a local park. -- Warren Scott

WELLSBURG — While it was interrupted at times for weather that was most suited for the waterfowl for which it’s named, the Wellsburg Kiwanis Club’s fourth annual Duck Derby proved to be a success, raising about $22,000 toward efforts to establish a splash pad at a local park.

The money was raised through the sponsorship of more than 1,500 plastic numbered ducks, each for $10, by area residents hoping to win one of several prizes.

A portion of proceeds also will go to the United Way of the Upper Ohio Valley, which aided with the “sale” of the ducks and supports the Brooke County Senior Center, American Red Cross and other causes.

The ducks were released from a boat belonging to Paul Billiard into the Ohio River.

Eric Fithyan, the event’s chairman, and volunteers in kayaks corralled them between a chain of pool noodles so they could reach the Wellsburg Wharf, where other volunteers used long-handled nets to fish them out of the water.

Sponsors of the first six to arrive received prizes.

They were: Jeff Emerich, $1,000; Tom Shernisky, a free large Domino’s Pizza each week for a year; Missy Mercer, $400; Stacey Wise, a $250 McDonald’s gift card; Chad Lamantia, $100; McGinnis Made, a year-long golf pass for Brooke Hills Park; and the Brooke County Deputy Sheriff’s Association, a year-long pool pass for the park.

The contest was the highlight of an event that has grown into a street fair since the Wellsburg Kiwanis Club launched it four years ago.

Nearby Main Street was lined with food trucks, booths with games for children manned by members of the Kiwanis Club and Brooke High School Key Club and other volunteers.

There also was a local radio station playing music through the day and a private diaper changing station offered by the Brooke County Public Library.

The event was kicked off with a 5K race in the early afternoon, with about 75 runners and walkers participating.

The top overall male walkers were: Carl Kondrach, Randy Nutter and Jerry Kosem.

Top overall female walkers were: Sarah Donley, Erika Oliver and Tiffany Bright.

Top overall male runners were: Christopher Fox, Cody Javens and John Perry.

Top overall female runners were: Kamdin Snider, Lily Wood and Sohpia Soley.

Fithyan expressed thanks to the many volunteers involved and the following sponsors: McGinnis Made, WTOV-TV, First National Bank, Mountain River Physical Therapy, the Brooke County Deputy Sheriffs Association and Chambers and James Funeral Homes.

Since the event began, it has raised more than $80,000 for local parks, including new playground equipment at the E.R. Nichols 1st Ward Park and the Betty Carr Recreation Site.