Any time you make a move with a major event, there are bound to be a few new hurdles to cover, and in the nine-year history of Polar Bear Plunges in Kentucky a little bit of ice to take off the water isn't exactly a new thing. Prior to the 2007 Owensboro Polar Bear Plunge on Saturday, February 10; however, the ice had never been on a lake. A near-record cold snap froze the lake at The Hines Center, which was hosting the Polar Bear Plunge for the first-time in its three-year run in Owensboro.
The ice proved to be no match for the Polar Bears' Spirit, though, as volunteers from US Bank, The Owensboro Police Department and the Daviess County Fire Department cut about a 15-foot hole through two inches of ice on the day before the event to make the lake Polar Bear Plunge ready. The people of the Owensboro area came through on Plunge day as a record 119 people took the plunge in Owensboro, raising an event-record $26,000.
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The Owensboro Police Department, including (left-right) JD Wargel, Jeff Payne and Jamie Crowe, won the costume contest dressed as Snow White and the Seven Dwarves. |
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Two of those 119 Polar Bears made very interesting treks to take the Plunge in Owensboro. Jeff Turner made the trip to Owensboro all the way from Austin, Texas to participate in the Plunge for the second time. Louisville's Kyle Sammons made the third of what will be four Polar Bear Plunge appearances in Kentucky this year as he had already jumped in the Lexington and Northern Kentucky events and will jump in the Louisville Plunge on Feb. 24.
The day got kicked off with a lively costume contest inside The Hines Center's ballroom. There were many interesting outfits, including a man dressed as a baby who actually crawled across the stage. A Fred and Wilma Flintstone couple, a girl dressed like somebody taking a bubble bath, a Britney Spear Fan Club and Marilyn Monroe. But it was the Owensboro Police Department that caught the judges' eye, however, dressed as Snow White and the Seven Dwarves (with officer Brian Crosley as Snow White) to capture the Costume Contest championship.
The Owensboro Police Department actually took home two awards on the day, also winning the Polar Cup for the largest group in the Law Enforcement Division with 10 people jumping. The team raised $1,211.45. The Corporate Division Polar Cup found a new home in 2007, but continued the tradition of staying with the host site. This year The Hines Group claimed the prize from US Bank with 20 Polar Bears raising $6,860. The School Division Polar Cup stayed with Apollo High School for the second year in a row. Apollo had six Polar Bears who raised $305.
Another defending champion was Darlene Rhodes, who won as the Oldest Polar Bear. Rhodes, 63, raised $617. The Youngest Polar Bears at the event were 11-year-old Molly Millsap and 10-year-old Madison Capps.
The big prize winners, though were the King and Queen of the Plunge. Shirley Quist of US Bank retained her crown as the only Queen the Owensboro Polar Bear Plunge has ever known, raising $1,635 for Special Olympics. Jim Hines, the president of The Hines Group and host of the Polar Bear Plunge fittingly was named its King for 2007, raising $1,615.
Our thanks to everyone who made the 2007 Polar Bear Plunge such an overwhelming success — all of the participants and the event committee and all the volunteers. We want to thank 2007 Polar Bear Plunge sponsors The Hines Center, US Bank, Texas Roadhouse (which sponsored the post-plunge bash), WBKR, the Kentucky Law Enforcement Torch Run and AAA Kentucky.
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One of the 119 people who took the PLunge in Owensboro in 2007 heads for the ladders. |
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For more information about how you or your company can be involved in the 2008 Owensboro Polar Bear Plunge, either as a sponsor or as a participant, contact Special Olympics Kentucky Special Events Coordinator Candace Sanders at 800-633-7403 or via e-mail at csanders@soky.org.
Five Polar Bear Plunges were held in Kentucky in 2007 with events in Lake Cumberland, Lexington, Louisville, Newport and Owensboro. Thi sPolar Bear Plunge season saw more than 2,100 people take the Plunge, raising nearly $475,000 for Special Olympics.
King of the Plunge — Jim Hines, The Hines Group , $1,615 raised
Queen of the Plunge — Shirley Quist, US Bank, $1,635 raised
Polar Cup Corporate Division — The Hines Group; 20 members, $6,860 raised
Polar Cup School Division — Apollo High School; 6 members, $305 raised
Polar Cup Law Enforcement Division — Owensboro Police Department; 10 members, $1,211.45 raised
Oldest Polar Bear — Darlene Rhodes (63)
Youngest Polar Bear — Ashley Wettstain and <adison Capps (10)
