Sinking a boaters' paradise
For you newcomers to the Panhandle who are interested in boating on our wonderful lakes, I have some very alarming news to throw your way.
We have been a residents of Kootenai County for the past 40-plus years and have seen so many changes on our waterways, some for the better but far too many for the worse. Here we are nearing the annual Chinook derby on Lake CDA and what do we have? No suitable boat launch.
They have closed the Blackwell Island launch way too early, and Higgens Point has no patrol to keep the nasty people from vandalizing the trucks while folks are out fishing. I feel like the county needs to take over the Blackwell launch and leave it open until after the Thanksgiving holiday.
I know the lake will be lowered but that is not a problem. The launch there is fine even at low water. The Third Street launch is a mess. Mr. Hagadone wanted to get rid of it but failed thanks to some good folks like Mary Souza, Keith Paella, myself and others who opposed the closing of the Third Street launch. They did get rid of most of the parking with the new park, which was way overdone. So what is a boater to do?
You out of towners who have moved in on our wonderful city and county need to step back. Not so fast. Rich or poor, we all have a stake. This area could have been a boaters' paradise if only we had some quality folks in office at the city and county level.
So, what we have now is a bunch of legal bureaucrats who donʼt give a rip about the boating public. If you've thought about making some changes in our laws and regulations at the boat launches, just get involved and we may be able to save some access to the lakes we enjoy so much.
Hayden is another example where lately they have turned a bunch of trailer parking into single car parking. What a bonehead idea. So for now we will spend our time at the big lake up north and enjoy our time in the Baywiew area where it hasn't been spoiled.
God Bless folks like Ralph for all he has done for Bayview.
Ron Dayton is an Athol resident.