By Eileen Persike, editor. The strange winter of 2015-2016 has claimed another casualty. HoDrags on Ice organizers cancelled the even Feb. 15 due to insufficient ice on Boom Lake. The much-anticipated event was scheduled to take place this weekend, Feb. 27.

Committee member Linda Krebsbach said they drilled in several locations and found at most, 12 inches of good ice. They were looking for more like 18 inches.

“Safety is number one,” Krebsbach said. “And I wouldn’t feel safe out there, so for the drivers’ and spectators’ safety, we had to cancel it.”

HoDrags was co-sponsored by the Rhinelander Area Chamber of Commerce. The committee will meet next week to begin planning for next year.

“We were overwhelmed with the generosity of our sponsors,” Krebsbach continued.  “We certainly want to thank them for their support.”

Many of the participants race regularly in Merrill, at Council Grounds State Park. They will be racing there this Saturday, Feb. 20 provided their ice conditions hold. The weekend forecast calls for temperatures in the upper 30s and rain.