Janet Smellie
Northern News Services

NNSL (Nov 13/98) - Something tells us come June 13, we're going to have one ecstatic dad out there. That is, of course, if the wife lets him keep the prize.

Thanks to the Elk's Father Day Draw -- tickets are officially on sale today -- someone will be walking away this spring the winner of a brand new 1340 cc Fat Boy Harley Davidson motorbike.

Why? Because the fellas at the Elk's Club realized raffling off the $29,000 motorcycle would be a big seller -- especially since the tickets for the bike are only $20 -- and a great way to help bring in thousands of dollars for the Stanton Regional Hospital Foundation.

"This isn't your average street bike," notes the Elk's Exalted Ruler Craig Janz, who spearheaded the idea of bringing up the American classic to raffle off.

"It's definitely not for a beginner."

With 3,000 tickets hot off the press, the club is also promising if all the tickets go fast, the draw will be moved up.

"We have a pristine reputation around town, which we'll stand behind. We won't be going and postponing any draw. If we sell all the tickets, we'll hold the draw immediately," Janz says, adding, judging by all the interest so far, an earlier draw may be in the cards, after all.

"Being that Friday the 13th is our launch date, Freddy Squires (owner of Harley's Hard Rock Saloon) has pre-bought the first 13 tickets. Tickets will be out there throughout town."

Janz says thanks to some pretty "astounding deals" in town, the prize list doesn't end with the Harley.

An early-bird draw set for Dec. 20 will see someone walking away with a two-seater dune buggy from Force One Yamaha. Second prize is a 9.9 hp Mariner outboard motor from the Co-op. The third prize winner will score a five-day fishing trip for two to MacKay Lake Lodge. And last, but certainly not least, is the $500 gift certificate at Wolverine Sports.

"The bike is definitely going to do a little travelling," notes Janz, who says planned display sites include White Bear Chrysler, and the mall.

"Meanwhile, we invite everyone on down to the Elk's clubroom to get a look at her. She's on the dance floor, ready to rock 'n' roll."