The Germantown Grove Club's annual Fishing Derby for Carbon County students with special needs was held recently along the stream that runs through the Germantown section of Jim Thorpe.

This was the 59th year for the event which hosted approximately 200 students over its two-day run. The derby is sponsored by both the Jim Thorpe American Legion Post 304 and the Germantown Grove Club.It was started in 1954 as an American Legion function by Germantown resident Phil Rodgers and others.In addition to being able to catch up to three fish, every student was treated to food and refreshments.Every child who attended the event caught a fish both days and nobody went home empty-handed.The section of the stream where the fishing derby is held is maintained and stocked with fish by the Germantown Grove Club, which stocked over 700 fish, including some trophy fish, for this year's derby.Along with the efforts of about 40 volunteers each day, both corporate and individual contributions help to make this effort on behalf of the students possible.When the students boarded their buses after a day of fun and excitement, the happiness in their faces reflected the great time they had at the Fishing Derby.