IT"S OFFICIAL......

Frosty sent me a couple photos, unfortunately for some reason this was the only one that would come up, but what he's trying to say is that Summer is officially over. And how can we tell? Not necessarily by the few dusting's of snow we've already had, and the fact that the high was only in the 20's just yesterday, but that it's time for the buoys to come out of the lake. Here Paul Quittschreiber grabs one and pulls it aboard, while Roscoe, Frosty's dog,makes sure he's doing it right. For me the official end of summer is when the stakes go up in the cemetery. For those of you who live on the north side of the lake  you probably drive by and see this and quietly know in your heart that yes the real snow is about to come. This coming Saturday is the start of Deer Hunting season so stay safe, wear your orange if your out walking your dog, and good luck to all of you hunters.

So do any of you have special signs that summer is officiallly over?

ATTENTION FISHERPERSONS !

Do you have any old frozen fish or venison sitting in your freezer? Our local wildlife rehabilitation center, Wild Instincts, is currently in need of these items to feed their current Eagle and Bear Cub orphans. They house 10 orphaned bear cubs who are growing by leaps and bounds as well as Bald Eagles, all of which they hope to release back into the wild when they are ready. Wild Instincts operates soley on donations and grants and could use your help to feed their patients. A big shout out and thank you to Vernon and Marilyn Storm for getting the ball rolling. I picked up an entire cooler of fish and venison from them today and Wild Instincts was extremely grateful for their help. If you have fish or venison availble you can call me (Kathy Furda @ 715-369-0340 ) and I'll try to get there and pick it up. To learn more about Wild Instincts go to    http://www.wildinstinctsrehab.com

Or if you are a Face book Fan go to https://www.facebook.com/pages/Wild-Instincts/168269616556386

And just to give you a tease check out this video of the bear cubs
http://wildinstincts.wordpress.com/

Recent Newsletter

Please remember that the Picnic date is Sunday August 12, 2012 at 12:00 noon. It was incorrect in the first mailing.

The Lake Thompson Lake Association annual meeting took place on Sunday, June 17, 2012 at Holiday Acres Resort.  After brunch, the association members in attendance adjourned to the outdoors for the annual meeting in the tent still up from a wedding the day before.

18 members were in attendance. 

Frosty (Charles Smith) was nominated and voted in as President of the Lake Thompson Lake Association.  Still needed is a vice president.  If anyone else is interested please let Frosty Smith or Mike Rolling or one of the other board members know. There is one volunteer at this time:  Vote or appointment to the position will occur at the annual picnic.

Board members are Frosty Smith, president; Mike Rolling, treasurer; Sue Wimberger, Secretary; Members-at-large: Joan McEnroe, Kathy Furda and Kari Zambon.   Mike Rolling, Treasurer reported the following:

Balance as of June, 2011 was:     $3,925.00

Income:  Membership dues:       $2,990.00

Donation to the Buoy fund:         $        5.00

Total income:                                    $2,995.00

Total Expense:                                  $1,982.00

Balance as of June 17, 2012         $4,938.14

Note:  In anticipation of Lake Thompson eventually becoming another lake with some type of AIS, it was decided in 2011 to raise the dues and build up some extra capitol as a start on a fund for eradication or containment of any AIS that would be found in the lake.  The Lake Thompson property values depend on keeping our lake free of AIS. Lake Thompson has a group which monitors the motor craft entering or leaving the lake and educates those who use the public boat landing.  Many members have expressed their appreciation to the efforts of those persons who participate and volunteer at the landing.  Volunteers are always appreciated!  If anyone is interested in participating, please notify a board member.

The official ICE OUT Time was March 18, 2012 At 2:18 PM.  Winners of the ICE OUT Contest were:

1^st Place:  Francis and Paula Walsh, March 20 at 12:00 Noon.

2^nd place: Conrad and Martha Wipfli, March 20 at 3:20 PM.

3^rd place:  Ronald and Carolyn Kading, March 16 at 12:31 PM

Annual Meeting:  Discussed in the general meeting were the best days and times for the annual meeting.  A Sunday brunch was tried for the 2012 annual meeting.  Attendance was less than usual, possibly because it was Father’s Day and not on Friday night.  At this time, next year’s summer dinner is planned as a supper buffet on the last Friday in June, (June 28, 2013). (Secretary’s comment: Most of the persons attending were those who live on the lake full time) 

The Annual Picnic be held in August. 13, 2012 at 12 noon at Holiday Acres.  A change to this year’s gathering is that the Lake Association will provide meat for attendees.  Hamburgers, Brats, and Hot dogs, buns and beverages will be provided.  Families should bring a dish to pass and your own tableware. There will be free hay rides!  Bring the kids and grandkids!

A Merrill Ice Drag Race Car/Truck Club has scheduled a race on Lake Thompson on Feb. 24, 2013.  This club plans to conduct the race in the bay which opens off the boat landing.  Included in this mailing is a layout of the proposed race track.  Members in attendance at the Annual meeting expressed opposition to this event and discussion occurred.  Of concern is the use of the center bay, continuing south west into and including the area of the Norwood Condos Association bay, across from the boat landing.  Ice will be plowed by the Ice Drag Race Car Club from the time there is  12 inches of ice up to the day of the race.  Snowmobile traffic and vehicle traffic traveling across the bay will be affected.  Of concern is:  the high berms, which will result from the plowing and which will not disappear until the ice melts in the spring.  Because Wisconsin lakes are owned by the State of Wisconsin, lake owners cannot prevent this race event from going forward.  In like manner, the Car Club members cannot move ice shanties that might be in the way.

Discussions with the Town of Pelican Board and the DNR have been unsuccessful in preventing this race. 

Other concerns expressed by Lake Thompson owners are:

-Spilled nitrous fuel permeating the ice, trash, cigarette butts etc. remaining.

-Noise and activity of trucks and/or 4 wheelers plowing the ice.

-Traffic the day of the race

-Snowmobile, cross country skiing, snowshoeing disrupted by the berms created when plowing the race track

-lncreased attention to Lake Thompson and the traffic it will bring. 

Should this event be successful, the car club members have expressed intent to have more than one race on Lake Thompson in future years.  In informal discussions, most members expressed that there were many lakes between Rhinelander and Merrill and the hope is that another lake will be found on which to have the race.

In an effort to get more members involved, suggestions and ideas were gathered at the annual meeting or expressed to board members.   

-Have informative meetings of interest and importance to Lake Thompson Owners that are not necessarily with a meal. --Hold informative meetings (AIS, fish population, boat etiquette) on Sunday Mornings for those who cannot arrive in time for the annual meeting or other evening gatherings.

-Many owners do not arrive in time for a meal and/or meeting in the evening on Friday or have children and cannot get away for a meal.

In an attempt to include all Lake Thompson Association members in activities, we request that you would please contact the board with your opinions.  We need your input on ALL ISSUES and on the ICE DRAG RACE.

MEMBER EMAIL ADDRESSES:  There are some members whose email addresses are no longer valid.  Please contact Mike Rolling with your correct email address if you are not receiving email from the Lake Thompson Association. (rollingm@dwave.net)  We are still sending snail mail for important subjects and notices, however, it is more convenient and cost effective to send emails for some issues or subjects.

                                                                               

SEE YOU AT THE PICNIC!

     AUGUST 12, 2012

                                                                                         12:00 NOON

                                                                    KIDS, GRANDKIDS, GUESTS WELCOME!

BOARD MEMBERS:

President:  Charles (Frosty) Smith

frosty@newnorth.net

Vice President:  open

Treasurer:  Mike Rolling

rollingm@dwave.net

Secretary:  Susan Wimberger

susanwimberger@gmail.com

Members at Large:

Joan McEnroe

joanmcenroe@gmail.com

Kathy Furda

­­­­­­nlight@charter.net

Kari Zambon­

kkjkandp@yahoo.com

Correction...

The date for the Annual Picnic on the Flyer that was sent out was incorrect. It was listed as Monday Aug. 13. but it 's really Sunday  Aug. 12.  Stay posted as soon as I get a copy of the letter to post  I will put that up as well. There will also be hay rides for the kids.

A Walk on the Dock with Michele Sadauskas

Click to enlarge.

A Walk on the Dock with Michele Sadauskas

Click on the picture to enlarge.

Moon Over Lake Thompson

Last week when the moon was full I ran out to try out my new camera on the big beautiful moon that filled the sky. I was pleased with the results.

Annual Meeting News

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A Walk on the Dock....

Just click on the picture to make it larger.

Opening Day of the 2012 Fishing Season

Father and son Greg and Darin Reinke show off their catches on opening day. If I knew anything about fish I could probably tell you what they caught and how much they weighed,but maybe some of you fishermen can help me out. I do know that the frog in the bottom photo is a tree frog though.

ICE OUT TIME...

We have certainly seen some strange weather this winter and spring and it is still managing to baffle us. It is hard to know what to keep in your closet and what to put away. For now I'm going to just leave things as they are since last Saturday we had a beautiful Spring day of 70 degrees and yesterday we had snow and wind with a temp that started out in the morning at 41 then rose to 54 and then promptly fell 20 degrees in the course of a couple hours. At least today has started out sunny with the promise of maybe 50. But that frost did a little damage to some plants like the Elderberry and my Daffodils that were just starting to bloom. The lake went out the earliest I have have ever seen in the almost 34 years that I have been here. It went out on March 18 at 2:18 pm. I'm not sure what this will do for the Ice Out Contest, and we'll probably have to decide at the next Board meeting so don't get your hopes up if you sent your guess in before the actual due date. Just when you think you have all the bases covered, Mother Nature likes to mess with you.

Snow Storm continued....

I found out today that unless you want to wade through the thigh high snow it was pretty hard to get a good photo to show exactly how much snow we have. The pictures below were taken from our driveway once the plow came through. At least you can see the amount of snow on the roof and the woodpile and behind  it. And of course we had to shovel a path for our new little puppy Emmet. His nose comes just above some of the areas, otherwise it's over his head. That doesn't seem to stop him from climbing right in though. I did take a ride into town and N. Shore Dr. is a bit slimmer than it used to be. At least you don't have to worry about going into the ditch since the the piles of snow are so high in most areas they will definitely keep you out!  Again if you have any photos please send them and I will try to venture out over the weekend to see if I can capture more.

Big Leap Day Storm

Winter finally came in with a huge blast. We had over 18" and while it's winding down , it is still snowing. Needless to say most places were closed today. There were some power outages, but luckily none at my house. Hopefully tomorrow I'll have some photos to post, but if you have some you'd like to share then send them to me at nlight@charter.net  and I'll post them. The weatherman said we had 30"on the ground now! More to come....news that is, hopefully not more snow.

WHAT"S NEW....Click on to enlarge