Monroe County Board of Commissioners Chairman Dale Zorn was present to "pass the paddle" officially to Village President Jim Roe. Mr. Zorn had received the paddle in Monroe the previous day at a ceremony. Mr. Roe signed the paddle and passed it to River Raisin Watershed Council Chairman Don Mitchell, who will take the paddle to Morenci, and from there it will begin its journey through Ohio.

Also attending Dundee's ceremony were Monroe County Planner and River Raisin Watershed Vice-Chair Royce Maniko; Village Council members Janet Bunch, Douglas Heinlen and Mike Niemann; Village Manager Patrick Burtch, and Village Clerk Deborah Westbrook.

The "Pass the Paddle" project is sponsored by the national "Rivers 2000" project, and is designed to heighten awareness of the nation's rivers and their importance as a natural resource.

The paddle already has been through 33 states, including Alaska and Hawaii. On October 7, it will complete its journey and will presented to President Bill Clinton in Washington, D.C. The paddle will be put on display in the Smithsonian.

Actually, the paddles— plural— will be put on display. There have been several of the specially-crafted paddles, because in each state, officials have signed them. Since Dundee was the last ceremonial stop in Michigan (Morenci is a simple hand-over), this paddle will be retired and a fresh one started.

That the River Raisin dam has snagged several fallen trees and they have yet to be removed is part of the story, said Mr. Mitchell. He explained that the River Raisin Watershed Council obtains money from several communities along the river, and uses its $42,000 budget to clean up debris, and test water quality.

"All of these communities have an interest in the river one way or another," said Mr. Mitchell, "whether they use it for drinking water, as Dundee does, or want to take advantage of it for recreational development."

He added, "I thought it was important to bring the paddle to Dundee, because small

communities are part of this country, too."
Mr. Roe pointed out that Dundee already has spent about $400,000 on riverside improvements— much of that grant funds— and has applied for another $150,000 grant to make park improvements at Wolverine Park along the river.

The paddle had been hand-carried to rivers all over Michigan since Tuesday, Aug. 14. In Detroit, it was carried across the Detroit River to Windsor and back, and from Detroit it went to Monroe. It also has been to the Rio Grande, the Colorado, the Mississippi and other rivers of historical importance.

"The paddle has primarily visited rivers that are boundaries between states, or are located between countries," said Mr. Mitchell.

From Dundee, the paddle went to Morenci. Although there was no formal ceremony there, Mr. Mitchell and Mr. Zorn thought it fitting that the paddle go to a community in Lenawee County, since it is important for both counties to be equally concerned about the river's water quality. Morenci is the southernmost community in Michigan and is located along the Tiffin River, which becomes the Maumee River in Ohio.