Hidden Bear Trail ATV Club Newsletter #3, 2016
MEMBERSHIP MEETING, ELECTIONS, CLUB RIDE AND CLUB COOKOUT: Our last membership meeting of 2016 was held on Saturday September 24th at the Firelite Lounge in Lakewood WI. We had a total of 47 members and guest in attendance. We held our annual elections with the following results: Shawn Fidler President, Loren Nelson Vice President, Tom Siudzinski Treasurer, Jim Wisneski Secretary, Dawn Schmoker Membership Secretary, Dave Pitterle, Gene Dunsirn, Jim Schommer, Tim Stephani, Mike Richling, & Brian Fitzpatrick as Board of Directors. Kathy Steinbach was elected as an Honorary Board Member. After the meeting we left the Lakewood Trailhead on our way to Crooked Lake to join the Dusty Trails ATV Club and Crooked Trails ATV Club at their end of the year Poker Run. We had 22 ATV’s/UTV’s and 38 riders. The Kettle Moraine ATV Club also joined us for the meeting, ride and cookout. We ended back at the Lakewood Trailhead after a very enjoyable ride, with beautiful weather and with all rider’s accounted for. Our club cookout started after we returned right at the Lakewood Trailhead with food, refreshments & fun. The best part was the interaction with our members and the members from the Kettle Moraine ATV Club. You can view pictures of the day’s event on our website at: www.hiddenbeartrailatvclub.com.
FOREST SERVICE REPORT: Just an update on our clubs effort in trying on getting a route from the Boulder Lake Area over to the Wolf River Trails. We are working with the White Lake Club and based on what they have reported all the land easments are in place along with permission from the WI DOT to use the Highway 64 bridge in Langlade to cross the Wolf River. Our club and the Red Arrow Club are working with the Forest Service to use the current snowmobile trail from Traxel Point Road over to Killian Road. The Forest Service is in progress of doing their required studies. Our club has submitted a grant request for $20,000.00 dollars to make improvements to this trail prior to opening it to ATV’s/UTV’s. We should find out this week if that grant will be approved. We will keep you informed as we move forward with this project.
2016 CLUB ACCOMPLISHEMENTS: We are getting toward the end of another ATV/UTV Season (remember Oconto County Trails close October 31st) and thought we would list our 2016 club accomplishments: Opened a route from the Nicolet State Trail by Anderson Lake over to the Township of Doty via Bonita Road and County W (club paid for signs and labor on Hwy W), repaired 2 major washouts on hills between Island Lake Road and Star Lake Road, procurred a grant to fix hills next year between Blue Spruce Road and Hwy T in the Township of Doty, mowed the field on O’Briens Private Property along Highway T and formed 2 way traffic in that area, and brushed ATV trails and Routes on 2 occassions. The following is a list of Donations our Board of Directors approved (our Board feels that by helping others, it will be returned in numerous ways, along with keeping a positive image of our club): Lakewood/Townsend Rescue, Mountain, Doty & Riverview Rescue, Oconto River Kids, Lakewood Volunteer Trout Rearing Station, Kids trout tanks in Mountain & Chic’s-4-a-cause. Without the support we get from our members none of the above could be possible. The Board of Directors would like to thank all of our members!!!
WISCONSIN ATV ASSOCIATION (WATVA) CALL FOR ACTION: Our State Organization (WATVA) is in the process of introducing a bill to the State Legislation regarding the Safety Enhancement Grant that was line vetoed by Governor Walker in last year’s budget. The $300,000.00 grant that was eliminated was money from our ATV Registration that WATVA used to promote and administer our State Trail Patrol Program. This money was also used to assist the DNR with the Safety Certification Program along with other Safety Programs thru out the state. None of this $300,000.00 dollars was from the general taxpayers fund. I have attached information regarding how you can contact your local representative in regards to supporting LRB-4936/P2. You can contact your state senator and state representative along with Governor’s Walker’s Office. Please refrerence LRB-4936/P2.
BENEFIT FOR MOUNTAIN/SURING CHILDRENS CHRISTMAS PARTY: On SaturdayOctober 22nd, seven local business are holding a one-day Poker Run to help support the Mountain/Suring Children’s Christmas Party. The Poker Run starts at 10:00 am at any of the following businesses: The School House Bar, Animals Bear Trail Inn, Halfway Bar, Tnt’s Rusted Nail, Pour Haus, Skinny Daves, & Water Edge. You can ride your ATV to all locations or you can take any other means of transportation. The Poker Run will end at The School House Bar at 6:00 pm with 7 different chilies to try, along with meat & bucket raffles. Entry for the day’s event is $10.00 (you can also start getting stamped on Friday October 21st). All proceeds will benefit the Children’s Christmas Party that will be held in December.
BUSINESS MEMBERS: A sincere apology to the Northstar Motel in Lakewood for not including them as one of our business sponsor. The following is a list of Business Members, please help support their business: Northstar Motel, Lakewood Hardware, Lakewood Super Vallu, Lakewood Motorsports, Mulligans, The Beach Club, Lakewood Shell, J&J Contracting, Animals Bear Trail Inn, Maple Heights Campground, Echo Valley Campground, Boulder Lake Campground, Tebo Lakewood Realty & Cellular, O’Neils Halfway Bar, 9 mile Resort, Firelite Bar & Grill, Waubee Lodge, Prospect Bar & Grill, The School House Bar & Grill and The Sandtrap Bar & Grill.
2017 CALENDAR OF EVENTS: The Board of Director’s at their October Meeting will finalize our 2017 Calendar of Events and will mail to all members with the 2017 Oconto County ATV Map in the spring of 2017.
Thanks to all!!!
Jim