Rock River Sweep set for Sept. 8, look for Universal HoverCraft on the Rock

Universal HoverCraft co-owner Bill Zang prepares to survey the Rock River for debris to be removed during the Saturday, Sept. 8, Rock River Sweep. (Photo by Frank Schier)

By Frank Schier
Editor & Publisher

Universal HoverCraft has agreed to participate in this year’s Rock River Sweep Saturday, Sept. 8, as they did last year.

Look for the sleek craft working the area beneath the Fordham Dam to the mouth of the Kishwaukee River.

Universal HoverCraft has facilities in Port Byron on the Mississippi and here in Rockford at 1218 Buchanan St., just south of the Morgan Street Bridge on the Rock River. Visit www.hovercraft.com to watch videos of the hovercraft in action and to learn more about the company.

Thursday, Sept. 6, Universal HoverCraft co-owner Bill Zang was kind enough to go out and identify some materials to be removed. Zang and his $80,000 hovercraft spotted shopping carts, sunken boats, tires and barrels (pictured below) to be removed on Saturday. I

f you’d like to help with the Rock River Sweep please be at Sportscore One, Martin Park or the Riverview Ice House Boat Ramp, next to Prairie Street Brewhouse, at 9:30 a.m. or later.

The cleanup will end at 3 p.m. Prizes include tickets to the Screw City Beer Festival, T-shirts and books.

Call (815) 670-6440 for more information.

Posted Sept. 6, 2012

Inside the cockpit of the hovercraft. (Photo by Frank Schier)

A tire floating in the Rock River. (Photo by Frank Schier)

A sunken boat to be removed from the Rock River. (Photo by Frank Schier)

A shopping cart to be removed from the Rock River. (Photo by Frank Schier)

A barrel to be removed from the Rock River. (Photo by Frank Schier)

Universal HoverCraft has facilities in Port Byron on the Mississippi and here in Rockford at 1218 Buchanan St., just south of the Morgan Street Bridge on the Rock River. (Photo by Frank Schier)