Battle of the cheerleaders

COLUMBUS, NE - The annual lazy river duck run will run for its 22nd year next Friday...and local cheerleaders are battling for the most duck ticket sales.

"We have found that we have the most success in ticket sales when there is a competition," Jo Suess, the United Way Development Director, says. "We just thought about different groups in town...and what better than to have cute little cheerleaders out here selling ducks? They are so full of energy and they bring the school spirit along with them. Every year I see some of the same people come back because they want to support their school."

The first ten ducks to cross the finish line have the chance to win prizes such as $10,000 cash, groceries for a year, a travel voucher for a dream vacation, or a diamond necklace.

Brea Lassek, a senior cheerleader from Scotus, says that this event is something that community members look forward to every year and describes the experience as rewarding.

"This is my third duck derby," Lassek says. "As a senior, it's always one of the main events on our cheer schedule. We just like to go out on the highway and go against all the other schools. We kind of try to scream louder I guess, we throw up some stunts, we change the words of our cheers and incorporate it to buying ducks and the community really responds well. It's always fun when they honk at us and you see them turning in and they might buy a duck."

Proceeds from the duck run go towards united ways annual campaign which looks to provide improvements to the Columbus community.

"This is a kick start to our annual campaign," Suess says. "All of the United Way donations stay local. All of our partner agencies focus on the three pillars that the United Way supports, and that's education, financial stability, and health."