Local blood donors helped save lives

      The Twin Lakes American Legion Auxiliary hosted a blood drive on July 31 and would like to thank the following donors: Joanne O’Reilly, Wayne Chism, Louise Johnson, JoAnn Maiter, Diane Ainsworth, Vicker Wahler, Tim Maiter, Joe and Kelly Gurtowski, Michelle Gartner, Paul Weis, Kate Pryor, Gary Haraburda and Sharon Vitello.

      Because of these special donors who took the time from their busy schedule, we saved 42 lives.

      Every minute of every day, blood is needed. That blood can only come from a volunteer donor. A pint of blood saves three lives. With the continuing shortage of blood, please consider donating at any blood drive. Remember, giving here in the Kenosha and Racine counties, this blood remains in our jurisdiction.

      Thank you, and if you have any further questions, I would be glad to try and find the answers for you. Our next blood drive will be held on Tuesday, Oct. 30 here at the Legion Post.

JoAnn Maiter

Women’s Aux. Unit No. 544

 

Practice safe boating

      Dear Boating Community,

      I was born and raised in Twin Lakes and am a 50-year resident. My family now calls it our summer home. We love coming here. We trust our friends and neighbors to keep an eye out for our family, just as you trust us to watch out for yours.

      On Saturday, July 28, a 10-year-old boy was struck and killed by a boat after falling off of a tube on Petite Lake.

      Please let this be a reminder of safe boating practices and precautions for boaters:

      1. Don’t follow directly behind a boat towing someone as you may not see someone fall off. Please use extreme caution and a watchful eye on busy lakes.

      2. Look forward if you are the driver. Many drivers look back at their children being towed. You can’t trust that a boat won’t cross your path, or that someone being towed won’t fall in your path when you’re looking back.

      3. Having a larger boat does not determine right of way. Any boat towing someone has the right of way. Directly crossing the path of a boat towing someone can be extremely dangerous.

      4 You need to be above your windshield to see a head bobbing in the water. Boats that are moving but not on full plane can’t see a down skier/tuber/kayaker. Particularly on weekends, with the increased boat traffic on the lakes, don’t sit in your seat if you can’t see over your windshield.

      5. When towing someone you must go counter-clock-wise around the lake. If a skier falls, advise them to hold up a ski so they are easier to spot, reducing the likelihood of getting hit.

      6. Please stress these rules to your children/guests who are driving boats and PWCs. Talk to them about defensive driving, and watching for individuals being towed or kayakers. One bad move can cause a terrible accident.

      7. Power down when you cannot be attentive to driving. In the last few years there have been fatal accidents involving children because the driver was inattentive.

      8. Don’t drink alcohol and drive your boat.

      Though many of these rules sound like common sense, these are daily examples of dangerous behavior. Many boaters have never taken the boating safety course and do not know the rules. Thus, defensive driving is critical in water safety. The boating safety course is offered online, or in-person by local municipalities.

      We are all on the lakes for family enjoyment, and a mistake can cause a fatal accident. This particularly hits home for me; my brother was killed as a child on Lake Elizabeth by a boater who crossed his ski line.

      Please take precautions and follow these boating safety and common sense rules. Talk with your friends and neighbors about ways to make boating safer for our families, and use common courtesy and common sense.

The life you save could be your friend’s, your child’s, or your own.

Wendy Koca Rohrs

Lake Elizabeth, Twin Lakes


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