The 24th Annual Owen-Withee Lions Ice Fishing Contest took place Sunday, March 1 in downtown Owen. With fishing on the mill pond and food and raffles inside the nearby Old School gymnasium, the contest saw a good turnout, running from noon to 3 p.m., at which time things started to wind down. New this year in place of the Scouts fishing booth were minnow races, BSA Pack 19 and Pack 19 putting in work hours to build the base for the minnow racing lanes and earn scouting points.
As in previous years food and refreshments were available in the gymnasium front entry, with raffles, gun raffles, and door prizes onsite as well. Made possible with a host of community minded sponsors, individual raffle prize winners were listed by ticket number on boards at the front, with penny and other raffle winners announced after grid prize winners, while the Friends of the Old School held a 50/50 raffle, with Chris Lulloff winning $661.50.

Adult fishing contest winners
Northern
1. Mike Stiglich - 6 lb. 12 oz.

Crappie
1. Montana Lund - 8.4 oz.
2. Nick Kowalski - 7.9 oz.
3. Nick Kowalski - 7.6 oz.

Bluegill
1. Morgan Haegli - 4.2 oz.
2. Glyn Novak - 4.0 oz.
3. Nick Kowalski - 3.9 oz.

Perch
1. Nick Kowalski - 6.6 oz.
2. Nick Kowalski - 6.2 oz.
3. Angela Stock - 5.5 oz.

Kids Ice fishing contest winers
Crappie
1. Kathan Tessmer - 8.0 oz.
2. Elliot Novak - 6.9 oz.
3. Eric Burkholder - 5.0 oz.

Bluegill
1. Elliot Novak - 4.3 oz.
Kathan Tessmer - 4.3 oz.
2. Braxton Schallow - 4.0 oz.
Masyn Moore - 4.0 oz.
3. Max Lawrence - 3.8 oz.

Perch
1. Mercedes Witkus - 5.4 oz.
2. James Carr - 5.3 oz.
3. Elliot Novak - 4.7 oz.

Also awarded Sunday were several large raffle prizes, with donors and winners listed below.

Large raffle prize winners
Grand Prize-Aluminum Trailer (Trophy Trailers & Lake & Land LLC) Alli Nitz, Thorp
2nd: Savage Axis XP Camo Legend w/Scope (BBD Sports Shop & Mueller Auto) Troy Hackett, Chetek
3rd: Henry Golden Boy 22LR (Petersen Seal Coating & Badger Precision) Tracie Authier, Stanley
4th: Stevens 320 12 Gauge Shotgun (AK Outdoors & Quad K Farms) Judy Schultz, Abbotsford
5th: $600 cash (Rivers Edge Roofing), Nick Schock, Trempealeau
6th $500 cash (Mega-Le Wood Products) Jaime Sherwood, Curtiss
7th: FL18 Vexilar Fish Locator (Maurina Schilling Funeral Home & Cremation Center) Michael Riordan, Thorp
8th: Power Ice Auger (Prevail Bank) Jody Reilly, Medford
9th: Portable Ice Fishing Shack (A & W) Jacob Looker, Withee
10th: $250 cash (Courtesy Bucks, Courtesy Ford) Dylan Tomczak, Loyal
11th: $250 cash (Courtesy Bucks, Courtesy Ford) Stephen Subera, Withee
12th: One night stay with Waterpark passes (Metropolis Resort) Barb Lucas, Willard
13th: One night stay at Fair Bridge Inn & Suites w/whirlpool + $50 gift certificate to Mesquite Grill & Pub, Andrew Burzynski, Stanley
14th: Six ribeye steaks (Black River Meats) Dennis Hanson, Owen
15th: One fish dinner monthly for a year (Schmitty’s On Main) Scott Radke, Thorp
16th: One fish dinner monthly for a year (Schmitty’s On Main) Jacob Looker, Withee
17th: One pizza monthly for a year (Cindy’s) Laurie Lawrence, Athens
18th: One combo basket per month for one year (One Shot Bar & Grill) Al Schoengarth, Neillsville
19th: One fish dinner per month for one year (Hooked At Outboards) Stacy Christianson, Medford
20th: One 14” pizza per month for one year (IGYS Bar & Grill) Laurie Krueger, Cornell
21st: $100 gift certificate (O-W Sports & Liquor) Dave Kuss, Medford
22nd: $100 gift certificate (O-W Sports & Liquor) Keely Webb, Chippewa Falls
23rd: $100 gift certificate (O-W Sports & Liquor) Sherri Krambeer, Owen
24th: $100 gift certificate & gift basket (Munson Bridge Winery) Daryl Nolt, Willard
25th: $100 gift certificate (Romig’s, Inc) Drew & Kathryn Behnke, Medford
26th: $100 gift certificate (Turenne Auto Body & Sales) Richard Langieweiz, Stanley

Also included were several grid prizes, with Grid I and II winners below:

Grid I winners
1. Nick Petranovich - $350 pack of gift certificates
2. Kerry Kirn - Savage AXS Bazooka 65 Creed
3. Tim Stock - G Force Gf25 USA
4. Nikki Petranovich – Keltecp 17 Green .22 long rifle, donated by Decker Auto
5. Kerry Kirn - Flip Flop Grill from Thorp Equipment
6. Mark Korn - Loopy's Intertube Float party for 12
7. Jesse Nelson - Texas Roadhouse Pail
8. Mike L. - Fairbridge Inn and Suites - King whirlpool and double queen room
9. Matt Lear - Quilt, Blender and Fryer, donated by Nazareth Church

Grid II winners
1. Mike Renderman - $350 pack of gift certificates
2. Kim Mohr - Savage AXIS XP Black 7 mm-08
3. Don Kaczmerek - Winchester SXP 12 gauge
4. Allan Thiem - Rough Rider Distress - .22 long rifle
5. Joe Felbrugge - Flip-Flop Grill from Thorp Equipment
6. Jim Sowieja - Loopy's Intertube Float party for 12, Chippewa Falls
7. Joel Ovyn - Famous Dave’s - Feast For Two, Eau Claire
8. Tom Reinke - Loopy's Intertube Float party for 12, Chippewa Falls
9. Rick Sowieja - 20 Yard Roll-Off Dumpster from GFL

Now over for the present, the Owen-Withee Lions Ice Fishing Contest returns next year.