Water Patrol 2022 Update:
The Summer and Fall have flown by quickly.
After a late ice out and less than good weather, the patrol season finally got going in earnest the first weekend in June. Weather has continued to play a role in our patrol sessions throughout the summer season with storms limiting several days of activities. To date, through mid-September, patrol volunteers have devoted 146 hours to help make the time on the lakes safe and enjoyable for everyone. Many youngsters have been rewarded with coupons for ice cream at Frosty’s in Longville by having appropriate life jackets on. Handing out those coupons is probably one of the most enjoyable aspects of water patrol. The grin on a youngster’s face when they learn they have earned an ice cream treat can really brighten the day. We have received a few thank you notes from the youngsters in appreciation for their ice cream treats.
In addition to safety checks on boaters, patrol volunteers monitor the condition of warning buoys, place buoys and channel markers, warn boaters of pending weather conditions, and occasionally offer assistance to boaters out of fuel or in need of other assistance.
Perhaps the biggest news for the season was the long-anticipated arrival of the new motor on the patrol boat. A shiny new 200HP Mercury outboard now propels the boat around the chain of lakes. Everyone loves the smooth performance and quiet idle that facilitates contact and communication with boaters and eliminates smokey exhaust. Plus, the motor is very easy on gas compared to the previous two stroke motor. A full patrol shift typically consumes a little over 3 gallons in 3 hours.
The patrol boat was entered in the Longville 4th of July parade on behalf of the Association. Next year we are going to add some red, white, and blue 4th of July decorations to the boat and trailer. Cass County deputies also used the boat in support of the fireworks on Girl Lake.
I am grateful for the volunteers that provide me monthly reports of their availability for patrol duties. Their willingness to devote a few hours a month to enhance the experience of boater, kayakers, paddleboarders, and swimmers is a very significant aspect of the Association’s functions. We can always use additional volunteers to facilitate more patrol hours on busy summer days. Typically, volunteers are scheduled for one day a month for a two-to-three-hour shift. Patrols leave and return from All Seasons Resort. I hope you will consider stepping up and joining our water patrol group in 2023. For more information and details please do not hesitate to contact me (651-402-6258) or email .
CHILDREN’S LIFE PRESERVERS:
The Water Patrol is giving a certificate for either a free ice cream cone at Frosty’s in Longville, or a free kid’s combo at the BearPause Theater in Hackensack with the child’s paid admission, for wearing their life preservers. It has proven to be a very popular program for the last several years.
