The Polar Bear Plunge has been cancelled for New Year’s Day due to flooding of the Allegheny River. (KP 2012 File Photo)
The 17th Annual Dianna Ashbaugh Memorial Polar Bear Plunge into the Allegheny River has officially been cancelled.
This morning, Event Co-Chair Todd Ashbaugh personally contacted the Kittanning Paper and announced the cancellation after discussing the high water threat with Kittanning #6 Fire Chief and Water Rescue Team Member Scott Kline.
“Due to the high and dangerous water levels, we don’t want to risk it for any of the jumpers or the men and women of the water rescue team,” Ashbaugh said.
Ashbaugh said the New Years Day event will not be rescheduled in 2016 due to the unpredictable weather and river conditions.
Any jumpers that collected pledges in preparation for Friday’s event are recommended to either keep their donations until the next planned jump January 1, 2017 or refund it to the respective donors.