Sierra Lavelle, 8, of Dalton, examines a trout caught during the derby.

William Warpus, 2, of Clarks Summit gets a chance to practice his angling skills as he reels in a fish during the Forever Young Kids’ Fishing Derby on June 13.

Evan Serafini, 8, of Archbald catches a fish and aquatic weeds.

Jeremy Uhlendorf, 2, of Olyphant, shows off his fishing skills withfour sunnies, a perch and a bass at the derby.

Alexandria Kostik, 11, is excited after winning a prize at the derby.

Jonathon Kelley, of Old Forge, is a sophomore and member of the Bass Fishing Team at Coastal Carolina University, Conway, SC. Kelley shared some fishing tips with angler contestants at the Sixth Annual Forever Young Kids’ Fishing Derby on June 13. From left, are Kelley, Raphael Thomas, 7, of Waverly Township; Keira Mulhern, 7, of Nicholson; and derby founder, Linda Young, of Clarks Green.

SOUTH ABINGTON TWP. — Two hundred children participated in the Sixth Annual Forever Young Kids’ Fishing Derby held June 13 at Lake Eston Wilson at Hillside Park. The derby was named by Linda Young, of Clarks Green, in memory of her late husband, Lawrence E. “Bud” Young for his contributions to the Abington Community.

Two local residents were remembered at the derby: Bud and Linda Young’s longtime friends, Tom Roberts, of Clarks Summit, a member of the derby committee member who passed away soon after the 2014 derby; and Jack Cooper, of Waverly, who died June 10.

While children up to 15 years of age competed to catch a prize winning fish along the shoreline and on two docks, Young said, “I think this derby is the best we’ve ever had. At the same time, it’s not raining and nothing is working against us.”

Members of the derby committee are Young, Erin Osterhout, Sue O’Day and Clyde Rosencrance.

Jonathon Kelley,of Old Forge, a sophomore at Coastal Carolina University and a member of the school’s bass fishing team discovered the derby while searching online for local tournaments and was a new supporter at this year’s derby. He shared fishing tips with derby participants and distributed products such as stickers provided by his sponsors to kids.

“A few of them (the kids) I came across couldn’t cast, so I helped them cast. For some of them, it was a matter of putting on a worm.”

Young also reported, “We have (the cost) of Wyatt Sebring’s (rain and lightning) shelter covered (through a ticket raffle) and now it’s a question of how much we have towards the dock.”

Sebring, a Newton Township Life Scout working towards Eagle Scout ranking with Clarks Summit Troop 160, will build a permanent eight-by-eight foot rain and lightning shelter at the park with help from the community. Young also hopes to raise funds for a memorial dock honoring Roberts, Cooper and Edward Morristell and all park volunteers.

Anyone who would like to make a donation should call Linda Young at 570-586-5809 or 570-881-9641.