Anamoose Mascot Joe Moose Weds Ana Lope in Mock Ceremony

Anamoose, North Dakota - When the local town's people erected a sign outside their small city a few years ago, they added a towering figure. Joe Moose officially welcomes folks to Anamoose with his big, but apparently lonesome, smile.

It was decided last year that Joe Moose needed a mate. Anamoose citizens brainstormed and searched high and low for the perfect wife for Joe. Finally, they found Ana Lope, an antelope. Now, in the wild, moose and antelope do not mate, but for the purpose of Anamoose, this was a match made in heaven, not nature.

After a whirlwind courtship, Joe Moose wed his bride, Ana Lope, at a mock ceremony on Saturday, June 28. The weather was perfect for the couple in their outdoor wedding. Anamoose, a small town with a population of approximately 260 people, went all out for this special occasion. Local resident Ron Cartwright was Ana and Barb Martin dressed in drag as Joe. 'Minister' Maury Becker declared the couple "miserable mates" and then the party began. Joe and Ana Moose cut their wedding cake and handed out 'moose droppings'. A crowd of 200 joined the happy couple in celebrating their 'moose-tials'.

The wedding event was paid for in part with a grant the community of Anamoose received designed to help struggling small towns in North Dakota. Twenty-one small North Dakota communities received grant monies through the Horizons program, which is through the North Dakota State University Extension Service. Anamoose was one of the towns to receive $10,000 to go toward the betterment of their community. The Horizons program also distributed money to assist with community activities, which is how Anamoose was able to host this joyous union between moose and wife. The $10,000 received will go into the Anamoose Community Fund, which will serve as an endowment fund.