Boat Racers Memorialize Michael Dixon

ST. JOHN – Two area men were remembered following the Saturday, Aug. 26, sprint boat races at Webb's Slough.

The ashes of Richie Baltierra of St. John were spread on the waters after the racing. Baltierra passed away two years ago.

The ashes were spread by local sprint boat racers Michael Thomas and Clint O'Keefe, who drive and pilot the Dangerous Curves boat.

"His wife asked us to spread just a little bit," Thomas said, noting his boat also sported a memorial for local resident and his friend Michael Dixon.

"That was a totally separate thing we got asked, because we were the local boat," Thomas said, noting some race fans were confused by the double memorial.

"There were a few people who were confused at the race," Thomas said. "The ashes we spread were not his (Dixon)."

Thomas said Dixon was a friend, and an avid racer and fan; Dixon passed away Aug. 21 at the age of 48.

"We've had the boat for 2 or 3 years. Either we weren't racing at the time or he was busy. He was trying to make it down for the August races, but unexpectedly passed away right before it," Thomas said. "That was a way just to honor him a little bit he has helped me out a lot, he was a really good friend."

Thomas noted that a lot of people new Dixon.

"There's a lot of people around the area who knew him. St. John, Lamont, Ritzville, Harrington, Davenport," he said. "I can't think of a person who didn't like Mike."

Originally from Lamont, Thomas grew up knowing Dixon.

"He's known me since I was a baby. We did sled poles together," he said. "We did mud bogs together, Little Hornets drag racing," he said. "That's always what he enjoyed doing."

As he got older, Thomas considered him a close friend.

"I wish he was still here so he could actually be a part of it and not just in memory," Thomas said.