• The Izaak Walton League’s riverfront improvement project has been halted because of vandalism of newly poured concrete pads and damage to trees.
• Westshore Sportsman’s Club is offering a $500 scholarship to eligible members and their families.
• Glacial Lakes Conservancy is hosting a fundraising event June 28 featuring dinner, a raffle and activities.
• The Wisconsin DNR reminds anglers and boaters to follow regulations to prevent the spread of invasive species.

The Izaak Walton League planned to do some upgrades to its property along the West Twin River, including placing benches on concrete pads for people to use as a resting area to enjoy the scenery.

The concrete pads were poured, but within hours, the wet concrete was damaged beyond use by someone.

The feeling is that if people were going to damage the concrete, they might also damage the benches, too. So, thoughts of a future kayak pier are also now on hold, just like the rest of the project.

In addition, trees were chopped and stripped of bark in that same area. The trees are damaged to the point they will die.

If anyone knows anything about this damage, they are urged to contact the authorities and report it.

It’s too bad the actions of some people have to wreck it for the rest of the public.

Westshore Sportsman’s Club offering scholarship

Westshore Sportsman’s Club is offering a $500 scholarship. To be eligible, one must be a member, a child of a member or a grandchild of a member of the Westshore Sportsman’s Club and have completed their second year of college by June 30.

Applications can be obtained by contacting Mike Casebeer at 920-553-1255 or downloaded at westshoresportsmansclub.org. Applications must be returned or postmarked by June 30.

Glacial Lakes Conservancy plans fundraising party June 28

The Glacial Lakes Conservancy Event Committee, staff, Board of Directors and Turtle Springs Farm are ready to welcome Glacial Lakes Conservancy’s supporters for the annual “Rooted in Nature” fundraising party.

The fundraiser will be 3-8 p.m. June 28 at Turtle Springs Farm, 6829 S. County Road A, Adell. Cost is $125 per person. Enjoy food and beverages while exploring the prairie with naturalist David Kuckuk.

Also included will be a raffle featuring unique items such as a personal plane ride over the Wisconsin landscape, a Maple Sugar Festival tour, a massive Yeti cooler, a Vollrath seven-piece deluxe cookware set, a handmade Aldo Leopold bench, a handcrafted wooden salad bowl, personalized guided hikes, painting packages and more.

The event lineup is as follows:

• 3 p.m. — Appetizers (with paired wine available for purchase);
• 3 p.m. — Check-in, community art project, and raffle and silent auction begin;
• 3:30-4:30 p.m. — Optional prairie walk;
• 5-6 p.m. — Speaker;
• 6-7 p.m. — Dinner (with paired wine available for purchase) and dessert;
• 7 p.m. — Raffle drawing and end of the auction; and
• 7-8 p.m. — Sunset views and barn dance.

DNR offers tips for boaters, anglers to prevent spread of invasive species

Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources is urging anglers to help prevent the spread of aquatic invasive species by draining water from their boats and equipment this fishing season.

Unfortunately, some of Wisconsin lakes and rivers are known to contain aquatic diseases or small invasive species like spiny water fleas and zebra mussel larvae.

Wisconsin has various laws in place to prevent the introduction and control the spread of aquatic invasive species and diseases in Wisconsin.

Wisconsin law requires boaters and anglers to drain livewells, motors and containers before leaving a boat launch or fishing spot to prevent the transport of diseases and invasive species from one waterbody to the next.

Since water cannot be used to transport fish away from the shore, it’s recommended to use ice instead.

If you are using live bait, Wisconsin fishing regulations state that minnows can only be purchased from a licensed Wisconsin bait dealer, and no more than 2 gallons of water may be used to transport them.

Minnows may only be used on a different waterbody if no lake or river water or previously used minnows have been added to the container.

No other fish can be held in the minnow container, and dead bait must be preserved in ways that do not require freezing or refrigeration.

Never dispose of unwanted bait in a lake or river. If you have worms that you will not use before they die, dispose of them in a closed container in the trash, never on the ground.

Before and after you cast your line, protect our fishing future by doing your part to prevent the spread of aquatic invasive species. Remember to:

• Inspect all fishing equipment for attached aquatic plants, animals or mud;
• Remove all attached plants or animals;
• Drain all water from containers and equipment (maximum of 2 gallons of water allowed for minnows);
• Never move live fish away from a waterbody (fish out of water equals dead); and
• Dispose of unwanted bait in the trash.

To learn more about Wisconsin bait fishing regulations, visit the DNR website.

That’s it for this week, so have fun in the great outdoors.