It’s been one event after another! The celebration of our 50th anniversary at the paper was so much fun and I really want to thank so many people for stopping by for lunch. I’ve heard from several others that came by but because of such a crowd and long line ups they wouldn’t have time to wait before heading back to work. We were hoping for a great turnout but really hadn’t expected the huge crowds that turned out. Good thing we had an endless supply of hotdogs on the giant Ford grill!

It was busy leading up to the BBQ with our special 50th anniversary largest paper ever published by the Thompson Citizen and in full colour on Wednesday and our fourth annual Nickel Belt News tourism guide on Friday.

Barely time to catch a breath after the barbecue before over to the Juniper Centre for another successful fundraiser for the Juniper Centre. Every year I look at the decorations and how they transform their hall, as thoughts of wondering how they could ever possibly top it off next year, and voila they did it again!

Although I’ve always wanted to go to Hawaii I have yet to smell the Hawaiian floral air or dip my toes in the warm tranquil waters but last Saturday night I was able to wear my Hawaiian sandals, a lei in my hair and was met with bikini girls to the right of the entrance and a ukulele player to the left. A great comedian, an awesome meal and generous guests willing to open their wallets and bid on some great auction prizes for a good cause, topped off the night!

Driving home Monday night my thoughts were of how busy we are at the paper with preparing for our Ultimate Arctic Summer Adventure, keeping up with our website, and then I spotted them, the Nickel Days midway trucks rollin’ down the highway. And I thought last weekend was busy! The Thompson Citizen is proud to be a sponsor of Nickel Days. Summers in Thompson just keep getting better and busier. Saturday morning I’ll be helping Paul from Shaw Cable by emceeing the parade, and then it’s off to emcee the family stage show with tribute acts and the hilarious Don Burnstick and lastly, dance into the night with Honeymoon Suite. But the best is not over yet. Sunday is another big day where I get to host a talent show. The prizes are fantastic! We’re going to take a maximum of 15 contestants so if you plan on entering you’d better be in the C.A. Nesbitt Arena when registration begins at 12:15 p.m. 1st place winner will receive $1,000 cash ... 2nd $300 and 3rd will get $200 and then it’s off to the Duck Races! That’s right, I said Duck Races! You can purchase your duck this weekend in the Gordon Beard Arena for $10 and you’ll be helping a Port in the Storm raise money...prizes too!

The Race gets started at the Twilight Water Ski Club around 4:30 pm., and the first duck to make it to the boom rescued by Nickel City Motors will choose between a thousand dollar shopping spree at Nickel City Motors or $700 cash. The second place duck takes the remaining prize and third place will waddle off with $300 cold wet cash. Ok, maybe not wet or cold but it could be yours if you’ve bought a duck. All it takes is once duck...or maybe three ducks if you’re lucky enough to win all three prizes. Now that would just be too quacked up! See you at Nickel Days this weekend!