The Baraga County Chamber of Commerce’s annual Ice Melt Contest is still underway.
Deteriorating ice early this week left the orange barrel stranded on an ice floe on Keweenaw Bay, just offshore south of Baraga. Later, it disappeared from view from US-41. Mary Mervar at the Chamber office said they assumed it had fallen into the water, and suspended contest entries.
However, the barrel had not crashed through the ice. It had ridden the ice floe to shore, where it was hidden behind some trees. Workers who set out to retrieve the barrel from the bay discovered it there – still on top of the ice.
Since the barrel has not fallen into the water, entries have been reopened. Baraga village workers will reset the barrel in a more visible location when ice conditions permit.
Guesses cost $5 each, three for $10, or seven for $20, and can be purchased online here, and at several Baraga County businesses. The person whose guess comes the closest to when the barrel falls through the ice wins half of the contest proceeds.