Joe Paul’s duck captures the derby
Despite another rain-filled day, the GFWC Wewahitchka Woman’s Club’s second annual Duck Derby proved to be a resounding success! The community came together in great spirits to support this exciting event, showing once again that a little rain can’t dampen the enthusiasm of Wewahitchka residents.
The day kicked off with the 5K Duck Dash, hosted by the Wewahitchka High School cross country team. Runners from across the Panhandle participated, making it a well-received addition to the event. Even Gulf Coast State College had a presence, showcasing a great turnout of athletes eager to take on the course.
Our dedicated vendors braved the rainy forecast to set up shop, providing a fantastic variety of goods and services. Many thanks to our entertainment by Eric Randall and Forgotten Coast Dancing Witches. The unwavering support means so much to us, and we extend a huge thank you to them and to all who attended and “adopted” ducks for the race.
The highlight of the event, the Duck Derby race, saw hundreds of adopted ducks floating toward the finish line, each one vying for the coveted top prize. Congratulations to Joe Paul, the first place ($500 grand prize) winner; second place Sabrina Stromp, and third place Amber Yarusso.
This event would not have been possible without the generous support of our sponsors, who continue to help us make a difference in our community.
A heartfelt thank you to our Struttin’ Ducks sponsors Centennial Bank, Emerald Coast Federal Credit Union, Emerald Coast Hospice Care, Firework Factory, Fisher’s Building Supply, Miller Heating & Air Conditioning, Port Realty Group and 98 Real Estate Group; our Super Duck sponsors Adrian Wells Travel By Georgia, Comforter Funeral Home, Current Solutions, Gulf County Realty Inc., Kerigan Marketing Associates, Lighthouse Monument & Vault Co., North Florida Medical – Wewahitchka, Tyndall Federal Credit Union and You Should See What I Saw; and to all our Quacker Backer sponsors. We truly appreciate you!
The funds raised from the Duck Derby will go right back into supporting our community service projects, which include Arts & Culture, Education & Libraries (including scholarships), Environment, Health & Wellness, Civic Engagement & Outreach, and Human Trafficking & Domestic Violence Awareness
Through these initiatives, we remain committed to giving back and making a lasting impact.
If you’re looking for a way to make a difference in Wewahitchka, we’d love to have you join our club! Our meetings are at the Wewahitchka Community Building, 314 North Second Street the second Tuesday of each month. Come see what we’re all about and help us continue to serve our wonderful community.
Meet the Editor
David Adlerstein, The Apalachicola Times’ digital editor, started with the news outlet in January 2002 as a reporter.
Prior to then, David Adlerstein began as a newspaperman with a small Boston weekly, after graduating magna cum laude from Brandeis University in Waltham, Massachusetts. He later edited the weekly Bellville Times, and as business reporter for the daily Marion Star, both not far from his hometown of Columbus, Ohio.
In 1995, he moved to South Florida, and worked as a business reporter and editor of Medical Business newspaper. In Jan. 2002, he began with the Apalachicola Times, first as reporter and later as editor, and in Oct. 2020, also began editing the Port St. Joe Star.