CURWENSVILLE – An annual fish stocking event will honor both a local man and area veterans.
Squirrel Tails for Trout raised money to stock trout and walleye in the West Branch of the Susquehanna River in Curwensville on Sunday, Nov. 8.
Festivities begin at 12 p.m., with free snacks, donuts and beverages being handed out by volunteers from WalMart at the Veterans of Foreign Wars in Curwensville on River Road.
At approximately 1:10 p.m., the group will stock the river, just across the street with walleye.
A little further up the river at 1:30 p.m., the group will have a memorial trout stocking for Deuwain Rickard Jr., who was a deputy waterways patrolman for the Pennsylvania Fish Commission for over 35 years. He passed away in October of 2014.
Several former fish and boat commission employees are expected to attend along with members of the Rickard family.
Clearfield County Commissioner John Sobel will say a few words in honor of our military and veterans, according to Squirrel Tails for Trout founder, Pat Domico.
Two veterans of World War II, Cal Weisgarber, 98, and Maurice Lezzer, 94, will also be on hand.
Domico reported that he has received a lot of support for the memorial stocking from the Rickard family, members of the fish and boat commission and employees who worked with Rickard at the former Target Fletcherville Plant where he was a supervisor for many years.
Rickard was an avid outdoorsman who loved to both fish and hunt. He was an award-winning bass fisherman who especially enjoyed hunting turkey.
The family tells a story of the day that he went out fishing but came back with a turkey. He explained he spotted the turkey from his boat and with the bird being in season, he stopped fishing to bring it down.
Domico has been raising money for fish stockings since the 1970’s and started Squirrel Tails for Trout in September of 2005.
He collects squirrel tails that he sends to a fishing lure company in Wisconsin that provides fish for the restocking efforts.
Anyone wishing to donate for future stockings can contact him at 814-236-3621.
