By GRAHAM BROOKS / Staff Writer

HELENA–The 15^th annual Buck Creek Festival is a little more than two months away and the committee found out some unfortunate news the week of Feb. 29.

Just last year, the committee was excited to debut a new pontoon boat complete with a customized “Duck Dumper” to use during the 2015 BCF Duck Race.

On March 2, the committee was saddened to learn that the pontoon boat, which was only used once for the 2015 Buck Creek Festival, was heavily damaged due to vandals stealing the pontoons off the boat.

The BCF committee members are now turning to the community to receive help and Buck Creek Festival Volunteer Cris Nelson is open to receiving any help possible in replacing the boat.

“We purchased the pontoon last year in April and the duck race last year was the first time we used it,” said Nelson. “We were real excited about getting it and using the duck dumper and it worked beautifully. It’s just heartbreaking because it took us forever to find it so now we have to start all over again. I’m just glad we found out about the damage two months in advance and not two weeks.”

Nelson said the only reason the damaged boat was discovered was because she was getting information about getting the boat wrapped with custom graphics for the festival and that’s when the pontoon was discovered.

The Duck Race is one of the most anticipated events of the Buck Creek Festival and is the most significant fundraiser for the festival, which has donated over $200,000 to local charities and civic groups through the festival’s 15-year history.

Nelson said the committee could be flexible when it comes to finding a new replacement pontoon and fortunately the duck dumper was not damaged.

“Our pontoon was a 24-foot pontoon boat so we need something of similar size because of the duck dumper,” said Nelson. “If someone could help out and donate a boat for the festival this year that’d be great. We are looking at all options, but even if we receive a boat with no running engine that will work. If the decking happens to be messed up, we can also work around that.”

With the Buck Creek Festival being a fully charitable organization, anyone wishing to help out with a replacement boat will have the option to write it off as a tax deduction.

Anyone wishing to help the festival with any leads on a replacement pontoon boat can contact Ron Holly at 410-4496.

The Helena Police Department is currently investigating the damage done to the pontoon boat.