Long Lost Lake Area Association Fall 2018 Newsletter PREZ SEZ: What an interesting fall this has been-early snowfalls, scurrying to get closing up chores done, Wine and Cheese in the House instead of in the Woods (Thank you Svobodnys!), etc. Now the deer hunting season is upon us, and once again, the tempo at the lake changes. I hope getting boats out of the lake was not a problem. I had been told the ramp at the access would be extended, but obviously, that did not get done. Reportedly, backhoe acces- sibility and staffing issues were the problem. We are now on the list for next year, but no promises have been made re- garding date of completion. Many of you know Bonnie Schmidt experienced cerebral bleeding when she and Herb were in Pennsylvania. Some of us were able to visit Bonnie at Villa Maria in Fargo, and now we have been told she may soon be ready for a rehab facil- Sunset on Long Lost Lake by Ellen Gugisberg ity. I am sure our thoughts and prayers will continue to be with Bonnie and her family. Update on Bonnie Schmidt: Bonnie is in rehab and im- I am not always aware of those who may have news to in- proving every day. If she continues to progress as she clude in the newsletter or those who may have health con- has, her family hopes to have her home by November cerns to share. Please feel free to contact Grace Kuphal, 30. There is still a lot of work ahead, but she is one de- Jane Bovard, or myself if we can be of help. termined gal! Once again, I wish you a winter filled with blessings! Inside this issue: Linda Ditterick, LLLAA President LLLAA OFFICERS B2B UPDATE 2 TREE ORDER FORM 3 Linda Ditterick, President ........................ 657-2285, [email protected] 3 Roberta Anderson, 1st Vice President ..... 657-2566, [email protected] LAKE ACTIVITIES Al Fox, 2nd Vice President ........................657-2388, [email protected] TOWNSHIP NEWS 4 Jane Bovard, Secretary ............................657-2329, [email protected] UP AND DOWN THE LAKE 5 Kathy Carlson, Treasurer ..........................289-2008, [email protected] LEVORSEN MILL UPDATE 6 Peter Hovde, Historian ............................ 657-2346, [email protected] 7 Grace Kuphal, Newsletter Editor ............. 657-2492, [email protected] PHOTOS Jane Bovard, Newsletter Layout Editor . 657-2329, [email protected] LAKE DATA 8 Long Lost Lost Lake Lake Area Area Association Association Border to Border Trail update By Peter Hovde In September, a DNR representative from Parks and Trails division (PAT) showed up at the county commission meeting carrying maps of an alternative plan for B2B to cross Clearwater County. Quite a number of LLL residents were also in attendance. It was a dramatic and very short meeting. The essence of the interchange was this: You (DNR) have come back when we (Clearwater County) have already made our decision on B2B. You have read into our decision what you wanted to hear. Our unanimous decision stands to oppose any part of the B2B going through Clearwater County. At that point, the DNR PAT representative picked up his maps and left. We were honored to have our county commissioner Dean Newland (photo at the left) speak at our fall lake association meeting. Commissioner Newland has probably done more than any of us to thwart B2B in Clearwater County. He has been involved in the issue from the very beginning. He cleared his schedule to attend the very first PAT-sponsored meeting on B2B in Bemidji after hearing of the meeting just that morning. Our township’s and county’s decisions and rationale have inspired other groups along B2B proposed route to stand up as well. However, this is no time to rest on our laurels. PAT representatives continue to use obfuscations and exaggerations to mask the true nature of B2B. They continue to claim that B2B was legislatively mandated, when it clearly was not. Their latest whopper compares B2B with Wisconsin’s Rustic Trails system. Talk about apples and oranges. Rustic Trails roads are almost all paved, only a few miles in length and unconnected to each other, spread all over the state with no challenge areas for off-road shenanigans, and expressly designed for quietly viewing and appreciating natural and cultural treasures. As my long-time mentor used to say: If you have to lie to make your case, there is something wrong with your case. With a full-time staff working within PAT to promote B2B arrayed against our part-time and volunteer efforts, this conflict can feel like a real David vs. Goliath battle. But, never forget that little David emerged the winner. The newsletter will be sent out by e-mail to people with confirmed e-mail addresses UNLESS Grace is notified that you prefer to receive it by regular mail. Grace can be contacted at 657-2492 or by e-mail at gekuphal@aol. com. The newsletter editor assembles, staples, folds, addresses and mails the newsletters that go out in the mail. It saves time and expense to be able to e-mail them out and have the recipient print out their own copy if at all possible. Your 2018 Dues are now due. 2018 Dues is $15, 2019 Dues is $25 Dues can be mailed directly to our treasurer, Kathy Carlson, 326 James Ave. NE, Crookston, MN 56716 Name_____________________________________ e-mail address________________________________ Mailing Address___________________________________________________________________________ Amount enclosed:_____________________ For: ____ 20178____2019 Page 2 Fall 2018 Newsletter Reasons to Plant Trees and Shrubs North Country Trail Protect your investments by putting a shelter- On September 8, 2018, Ray Vlasak led a hike for the belt around your feedlot, farm yard or home. Laurentian Lakes Chapter of NCT to introduce the newly completed loop trail. There were 18 people on the Reduce water pollutants by restoring tree and hike. Charlie and Peter Hovde and John and Roberta shrub vegetation along stream banks and lake- Anderson are among the hikers that did both the new shores. loop and old trail for a total of 5 miles. It is a beautiful hike that overlooks the small lake near the camp site and Expand bird and grouse habitat by planting wild- meanders up hill through some big pines. It was impor- life-friendly species. tant that some LLL Association members participate in Count on future culinary treats with fruiting the hike as it will help us make a decision about whether or not to volunteer for the mowing of the new trail per trees and shrubs. the discussion at the 2018 spring meeting. Plan your windbreak or restoration projects today with the resources available through Clearwater SWCD. The tree order form is available through Clearwater Soil & Water Conservation District at the following web site: http://clearwaterswcd.org/ tree.sale.html Watch for the 2019 order form to become available. While trees have to be ordered by April 1, they are available every year. Maybe a group of us can get together before April next year and place a group order. Road Clean-up The hikers on the new loop of the North Country Trail on We had such a lousy two week period to do it that it got Sept 8, 2018. John and Roberta Anderson, 2nd and 3rd pretty crazy. The following people did their mile:Ardell from the left, Charlie and Peter Hovde, center, and are Johnson and Tom Jorgens; Kathy and Blake Carlson and among the hikers that did both the new loop and old trail Julie and Greg Thieshafer; Scherzer family; Jim and Lyn for a total of 5 miles. Svobodny, and Charlie Hovde ; Linda Ditterick and John and Roberta Anderson; Dan and Laurie Wilson and WINE AND CHEESE IN THE….. Becky Bergerson; and possibly others. Thanks to all of On September 30 the weather was so inclement that those who helped out. And sorry if some names were The annual “wine and cheese in the woods” became “Wine and Cheese in the Cabin” The Svobodneys were missed. By Becky Bergeron kind enough to offer their cabin. 22 people attended: Peter and Charlie Hovde Dick and KathyToomey Blake and Kathy Carlson Dan and Laurie Wilson Greg Scherzer Tom and Michal Jorgens LLL Web site: Ardell and Ruth Johnson Peter and Ellen Jorgens Linda Ditterick Larry and Linda Alderink www.LongLostLake.Org Jon and Roberta Anderson Jim and Lin Svobodny Page 3 Long Lost Lake Area Association Long Lost Lake Township Update October is traditionally a time of change in many township officially employs Jon Knutson. Jon lives in ways in nature, and this has been true for Long Lost neighboring LaPrairie Township and can be reached by di- Lake Town Board as well, as it prepares for the re- recting calls to Ardell Johnson, 657-2606, Road Supervisor, tirement of David Johnson at the end of the year. or Greg Scherzer, 657-2557. Several local citizens stepped David was one of the organizers and founding mem- forward on their own to assist in this case to push debris off bers of the township in 2005, and has served as the road, but as clerk I must raise a bit of an alarm with such Board Chair ever since. Until the filing date passed, good deeds since there is no township insurance coverage none of the rest of the board really believed that he for any injuries to person or property that might result from was retiring, but sure enough, he did. We honored such actions. We all do what we can out here to help each him with a colorful cake, some reminiscences and a other out in emergencies large or small, but we do so at our few transition essentials at the October meeting.