58th Annual River Rat Race is Back

The River Rat Race is back. It’s been a year since racers have put their canoes in the

Millers River for the area’s signature annual event.

Jeannette McIntosh, new Chair of the River Rat Race Committee,

McIntosh is in her second year as RRR Chair - and has a new Race Director working with

her RRR Committee - Jason Rushford - as long time Race Director Tom Lozier

has "retired" from the position. Tom has retired to "Race Consultant" and will continue to assist

Jason and Jeannette as they lead this year's race committee.

McIntosh notes, “I have received hundreds and hundreds of notes and forms

that Dave Flint had saved from previous race years. It is our commitment to continue the

race format as he had done in the past.

AOTV coverage

One thing that will be back, along with the race, is coverage of the event by AOTV.

Station Executive Director Carol Courville told the Athol Daily News, “Every year,

technically, there are some challenges. Once the weather breaks, we go out and test each

location and see if we can still go live there. But we have every intention of doing it.

Courville said AOTV is always in need of volunteers to help with the event. Anyone

interested should send her an email or call the station.

“We can train them for what their position will be for the day,” she said. “Some

people will be running camera, but others we just need to be wranglers or drivers or

do other things that we can train them on fairly simply. And, of course, we need help

setting up and breaking down.”