What’s Happening in Shell Lake!!

Happy October, this can be such a fun month, with various Octoberfest celebrations around the country, and of course Halloween!  Just love the idea of the kiddo’s enjoying the evening of Trick or Treating, and showing up in their fun costumes. 

I just want to share with you what an amazing Town and Country Days we had in September.  There were record numbers attending that weekend, which exceeded all expectations.  The Lion’s fish fry served well over 650 people, the FLY IN at the Airport, was a little disappointing with the fog that settled in, and pilots were not able to fly in, but the community showed up regardless for the delicious pancake breakfast, with the numbers of over 650 people.  The Friends of the Library book sale/donations brought in over $1650, with the best part, that adults and children alike were able to pick out fun books and take them home for future reading.  I have also heard back from some of the folks who ran other events that weekend, and they as well were very happy with the record crowds that attended.

There has been a lot of talk about the depth of the lake for the last couple of months.  As all of you know, we have been experiencing extremely dry conditions here in Shell Lake, and actually all over the state.  Reports of low lake levels are being recorded in many areas thru out the county.   Due to the fact that we have a seepage lake, the way the lake fills, is with precipitation, i.e. rain and snow.   The city is well aware of the concerns of the citizens of this city, as well as those in the surrounding area who utilize our lake.  The city has opened the “A” access on Aster Avenue, which is right off of Berg’s Park Road, that has been refortified to accept the boats that are being TAKEN OUT of the lake.  So just to be clear, this access is only for removal of watercraft from the lake.  Hopefully this will be helpful to the city, for those who still may have boats in need of removal from the lake.  Many of the reports that we are hearing, is that this winter we may well be in an El’ Nino…which is indicative of lower amount of moisture, and warmer weather.  Hopefully, through out the winter, we can accumulate some additional precipitation to help with the lake levels.

We are incredibly excited to announce that we have hired a new Police Chief, along with another full-time police officer who will be joining our department in October!

Warren Tuttle will be joining us as our new Police Chief, with an anticipated start date toward the end of October. Many of you may already know Warren, as he has served as a deputy with the Washburn County Sheriff’s Office for many years.

We feel very fortunate to welcome Warren to our police department. He brings with him many years of law enforcement experience, along with great ideas for keeping our community safe and building upon the strong foundation we already have.

Most importantly, Warren is passionate about making a difference. He wants to be involved in our community, get to know the people he serves, and be a visible and approachable presence.

In November, we will be hosting an Open House at the Police Department to welcome Warren and our new police officer. This will be a great opportunity for everyone to stop by, meet them, welcome them to the community, and ask any questions you may have.

We encourage everyone who is able to attend our open house to join us! More details about the open house will be shared as the date gets closer. We are excited for this new chapter and look forward to introducing you all to our new officers!

The Shell Lake Arts Center is busy with Fall Programs.  Did you know that they have adult dance classes?  They are every Thursday at 6:00pm.  Jump on their website to find out more about them, as well as check out their calendar of events.  There are so many activities to attend and to take part in, you are pretty much guaranteed to leave with a smile!!

For those of you who don’t know, Nick Dillon, who owns and runs the Shell Lake Lodge, has purchased the Burch Barn in Spooner.  This is a super fun place to visit, for both young and old alike!  It is a pumpkin patch serving up fall family fun with all kinds of activities.  If you have grandchildren visiting, it is the perfect place to take them on the weekends.  They are open Friday and Saturdays 1000am to 5pm, and Sundays 1100am to 5:00pm.  This is from September 26^th thru October 25^th.  If you are looking at a fun place to spend the day, this is the place to be.

The address is N5921 County Highway K, Spooner WI; Telephone number 715-513-9580.  Check out their website at burchbarn.com for more information, and upcoming events.  ENJOY!

Upcoming Events in October:

12^th Shell Lake City Council Meeting

31^st Halloween

 DID YOU KNOW:  FUN HALLOWEEN FACTS

Halloween has been around for 2000 to 3000 years.

The ancient Celts in Ireland, the UK, and northern France celebrated Samhain on October 31 to mark the end of the harvest and the start of winter. They believed the boundary between the living and the dead blurred on this night, so they lit bonfires and wore disguises to ward off ghosts. Most agree that these early practices formed the foundation of modern Halloween customs.  Today, Americans spend more than $11 billion annually on Halloween, making it the country’s second largest commercial holiday after Christmas.  Most popular Children’s costume is Spiderman, with witches and ghosts to follow; Adults are, witches, vampires and pirates.

The top 5 Halloween candy is in the stated order: Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups, M&M’s, Kit Kats, Snickers and Hershey Milk Chocolate Bars. 

Hope you get a chance to enjoy the beautiful fall days ahead in October, and take in the ever-changing colors, as the crisp autumn air settles in and the leaves begin their beautiful transformation, October brings a truly special energy. This month is all about enjoying the simple pleasures of the season before the winter snow arrives. Take some time this month to stroll along the lakefront, enjoy our beautiful local trails, and support our fantastic downtown businesses. Whether you are picking up seasonal treats, prepping your yard for the coming months, or getting outfits ready for trick-or-treaters, I encourage everyone to slow down, enjoy the vibrant colors around town, and take pride in the wonderful community we share.

Wishing you all a safe, happy, and healthy October!  BOO!!

Mayor Rowie Hansberger