The Chattanooga-area chapter of Ducks Unlimited has a new big place for its big fundraising bash. The conservation organization's 2018 Fall Flight Sportsman's Dinner & Auction will be held for the first time at Camp Jordan Arena. It is a week from today, Oct. 18, beginning at 5 p.m.
"The Camp Jordan Arena offers us a massive amount of space for even more guests and even more vendors," organizing chairman Ross Malone said in a release. "We've basically got two-thirds of a football field to fill up with displays and products. STIR Restaurant will provide us some of the best food ever served at a DU event."
The live auction will include hunting trips to Argentina, South Africa, South Dakota and Arkansas and a weeklong "Dream Vacation" for eight people to the winner's choice among Mexico, Costa Rica, Belize and St. Thomas. Fourteen guns also will be up for bid, among many other items, and those who buy tickets by Friday at http://bit.ly/FallFlight2018 will be entered in a drawing for a Beretta A300 Outlander 12 gauge shotgun.
Tickets cost $50 singly or $65 for a couple, and $15 for kids.
Drag boat racing returns
The Outboard Drag Boat Association returns to Marion County Park and Nickajack Lake this weekend for the 26th annual World Champion Drag Boat Race, co-sponsored by the Greater Jasper Jaycees to help their Underprivileged Kids Christmas Fund.
This competition annually includes nearly 100 boats, some exceeding 110 mph on an 800-foot course, and it has a pro purse of $12,000.
There is no charge to watch the time trials Friday. The gate fee is $8 on Saturday and Sunday for racing from 11 a.m. CDT to dusk. Kids under 12 get in free. Gates will open at 9 a.m.