Gold Rush Days were in full swing on Saturday afternoon. “We have a great turnout this year. There are campers lined up and down both ways of this road,” said president of the Buckeye Chapter of the Gold Prospectors Association of America, Dennis Staskiewicz.
While this is Staskiewicz’s first year as President of the Buckeye Chapter, he is not stranger to prospecting. He has been prospecting for many years and has traveled across the country. “I have been doing this for about 13 years and have traveled from Arizona to North Carolina. I have found a number of items over the years including arrowheads, gemstones, and gold. I found a gold nugget in Springfield, Ohio and I have to say that was a great discovery,” said Staskiewicz.
Gold Rush Days also found some young prospectors trying their hand at the old practice. “This is my third year doing this and we have a lot of fun. I have never found any gold, but I still keep looking,” said ten year old Caleb Oackes of Bellville.
His brother, Braeden Oackes, also ten years old, added, “I have found gold before and this is also my third year coming here. Finding the gold is definitely the best part of coming here.”
Vendors lined the river, offering goods to visitors.“I have been here since Monday and we have been pretty busy,” said Doug McCart of Minelab. Minelab specializes in selling metal detectors. “I got into prospecting about three years ago. I do it because it is fun and the people you meet here, you connect with instantly,” said McCart. McCart joined in the fun by raffling away a metal detector and giving away some gold.
“I am just having a blast here and I will definitely be back next year,” said McCart.
“I love coming here because I love being around these wonderful people. We really are a family and it is great to see them here having fun and enjoying themselves,” said Staskiewicz.
