Gearing up for the Penguin Plunge

February 5, 2012

At last year's Penguin Plunge, buxom cheeleader Michael Reasoner and faerie princess Caroly Testa get sage cold-water diving advice from Superman David Kramer. Sadly, despite his fine style, Michael was disqualified from the breast stroke competition due to illegal floatation devices. Organizers are busy gearing up for the third-annual Boundary County Penguin Plunge, everyone's chance to take a chilly dip into the beautiful Kootenai River at noon Saturday, March 3, to raise funds for Idaho Special Olympics. Last year, 80 Penguin Plungers raised $6,000 for Idaho Special Olympics, and those making the arrangements for this year's event are confident that we'll do even better this year. They are concerned, however, that with the way the weather has been so far this winter, it could be full summer by March. This year's event has an added bonus, a Penguin Plunge Ice Breaker at 6 p.m. Friday, March 2 at Mugsy's Tavern and Grill, where guests will get to meet the local Special Olympians they're supporting, organizers of the event and the people who'll be officiating ... who will have the unenviable task of choosing who the prize winners will be on Saturday, particularly, if last year's event is an indication, in the best costume competition. Judge Gloria Chaves  This year's emcee will be "Voice of the Badgers" and school board member David Brinkman, and judges are Boundary County School District 101 Superintendent Dick Conley, acting Bonners Ferry Police Chief Joel Minor, and special guest judge Gloria Chaves, the chief patrol agent for the Spokane sector of U.S. Customs and Border Protection, who is responsible for managing and administering U.S. Border Patrol operations in eastern Washington, Idaho and western Montana. Organizers are once again emphasizing costumes, the more outlandish, the better! They're also emphasizing teams, and challenging all county emergency service organizations and businesses to take part. If, however, a dip in the cold water of the Kootenai isn't for you ... you're encouraged to donate to the brave jumpers or come out and cheer them on! All Bonners Ferry plungers, who solicit pledges for their bravery, will, for the first time be awarded a genuine Penguin Plunge T-Shirt, and there will be tons of other prizes, given both at the Plunge and at the Ice Breaker. Prizes will be awarded for the most money raised, for the plunger who travels the farthest to take a dip and for team spirit. The top three costume wearers will also be awarded. After the dive, plungers will be treated to warming food cooked up by JoJo Baker, and everyone who comes out can buy chili and other delectables fresh off his barbecue grill. Potential Plungers can find all the information they need, including the official registration form, FAQs and more, at the official Idaho Special Olympics Bonners Ferry Penguin Plunge site by clicking here on the image above. In addition, volunteers and donors, who are still needed, can find on that site the In-Kind Contribution Worksheet, to make sure that your contribution is counted. To find out more about the third-annual 2012 Bonners Ferry Penguin Plunge, call organizers Tish Lagerway, (208) 267-6280, or Dave Kramer, (208) 255-6073. To find out more about the Idaho Special Olympics and the many other Idaho communites holding Penguin Plunges, visit www.idso.org.