Plenty to be thankful for

It's the season of giving thanks and on the premise that's easier to be cranky and whiney, here's a number of things, in no order in particular, that I'm personally thankful for with regards to living in this city on the Chain:

1. The Chetek Area Museum
   
   As local, privately funded museums go, this one is tops. I mean whether your interest is Native American artifacts or military memorabilia, the history behind companies such as the Chetek Boat Corporation or the Tronick Tackler (creators of the Nonsinkable Fishing Tackle Box) or the wonderful collection of pictures of days gone by, this place has it. And the price of admission is right.

2. The new playground equipment at Philips (Beach) Park

Credit goes to the Parks & Rec committee

Kids love the new playground set (and I think a lot of parents, too). Frankly, “Beach” park is a wonderful asset for our community – the pavillion on the hill, the band shell, and the beach itself are frequently used during the summer months.

Big kids like it too!

3. The new Chetek Dog Park in Gotham Pioneer Park

They've worked hard to bring
it about

Thanks to the efforts of a dedicated group of volunteers, Chetek's dog population now has a place to call their own.

4. No one got hurt!

Imagine if it had fallen
on a car!

This past summer, one of the light poles on the Long Bridge simply fell over. Built in the 1970s, the footings of the poles just wore out. Fortunately, no one was on the bridge at the time and therefore no one got hurt. It precipitated us special ordering four brand new poles which hopefully will be placed before the new year.

Everything falls apart

5. New youth center

Back in January, after fifteen consecutive years of operation, The Garage officially closed their doors. Recently, a new group has organized and is presently using the Pool Hall on Friday and Saturday nights to provide a safe, healthy place for the kiddos to hang out.

It's a good read and I read mine
front to back every week

6. The Chetek Alert

Not every small town has a local paper but we do. Since 1882, the Alert has been and continues to be a great source of local news and sporting information. My folks who live downstate subscribe to it just so they can track the exploits of their grandchildren and their son the mayor.

7. The EcoHarvester (a.k.a., “the Skimmer”)
   
   
   
   
   
   

Just like with the dog park, due to the efforts of a lot of volunteers the Chetek Lakes Protection Association finally put their new skimmer to work this past summer collecting algae out of some of our bays. I'm told that for the most part it works like a charm except in their estimation they need 10 more of them. Still, I'm thankful for the people who worked and donated time and money to see this idea become a reality.

8. City Council Members – Shirley Morley, Mark Edwards, Bill Waite, Cliff Bronstad.

2015 was a difficult year for those who serve as alderpersons in our town. A handful of local citizens brought a lawsuit against the Community Center and the City of Chetek and, even more challenging, was the decision to sell Knapp Haven (now Atrium Post Acute Care of Chetek). But after serving alongside these individuals for the past seven months I have found them all to be people who love our town and are trying to do the very best by her. While stipened for their efforts, considering the time they invest by serving on various committees while tending to city business they are essentially volunteers. I am grateful for their patience with me and their assistance in helping me get up to speed with things.

L to R: Shirley, Mark, former mayor Mike Linton, former Chetek Lt Ray Parr,
Chief Mark Petersen, Carmen Newman, Cliff Bronstad, Bill Waite

9. Plan Commission Members – Mark Etten, Del Wacker,

 I think they prefer it this way

John Hunsinger, Sarah Knepper, Jim Fults and Bill Waite.

Honestly, before becoming mayor, I never knew this committee existed. Cities, villages and towns in Wisconsin are authorized by state statutes to establish a plan commission. In our case, this group of people advise the city council on zoning matters, land use issues and administering a comprehensive plan. While not as authoritative as, say, the Bible, that plan serves the council as a general road map for us to follow. All these folks (except for Bill, who as a council member, receives a small monthly stipend) are volunteers and convene monthly. I have found them to be a great source of encouragement in my rookie year.

10. Donna Bachowski

That winning smile

There's more to come!

Donna became the new director of the Chetek Community Center (now officially, “The Center”) back in February. She has brought new energy and vision to help us transform the way we all look at this wonderful municipal asset. Instead of being viewed as a place where the “old folks” hang out, it is a center which is truly serving the entire community.

  11. Jennifer Blatz, Chetek Chamber of Commerce Event      Coordinator

There are a lot of people who work hard behind the scenes to make Liberty Fest the smooth running annual event that it is including the guys from the Public Works Department, the Chetek Police Department and a lot of unsung volunteers. But coordinating everyone like a maestro before a hometown orchestra is Jennifer Blatz. I'm thankful for her efforts in putting this altogether every year. Of course, this isn't the only rodeo she oversees.

12. City Building Inspector Joe Atwood.

If your job includes informing individuals that they have to move an old unlicensed car sitting in their yard or paint their house that is sorely in need of it, you're likely to encounter the ire of certain members of the public. But Joe is a consummate professional and is always calm and collected. Thank you, Joe.

13. The members of the Chetek Area Volunteer Fire Department and the Chetek Area Ambulance Service.

They are a small yet dedicated force of highly trained individuals who run toward fire and mayhem instead of away from it. Several years ago, the house that our oldest daughter was renting was struck by lightning. The cavalry was there within minutes of her 9-1-1 call and I have forever been grateful.

14. Dan Knapp, Director of Public Works.

Camera shy

Dan is content to remain in the background diligently overseeing the work that we simply take for granted – cutting grass at our local parks, plowing the streets, picking up our trash, replacing light poles that inexplicably fall down, you name it he and his guys are on it. He even turns a profit on our old cement by having it ground into fill.

15. Carol Burnham and the Calhoun Memorial Library.

The Calhoun Memorial Library is open six days a week and serves people from Barron, Chippewa and Rusk County. It is always busy and provides free Wi-Fi, access to the internet, DVDs and videos and, oh yeah, books.

16. Chief Mark Petersen and the Chetek Police Department.

He doesn't smile much but he's a good cop

Regrettably the atmosphere that police are forced to work in these days is increasingly hostile and yet Chief and his crew continue to provide 24/7 protection. Sure they write tickets when they must and do drug busts as well. But they don't just bring the hammer. You can also find them conversing with kids at our schools or at the new youth center. They work hard to keep us all safe and I am thankful for their dedicated service.

17. Former mayors of Chetek John Banks and Dianne Knowlton.

Over the past seven months, both John and Dianne have offered their encouragement and lent an ear when I needed it. I'm grateful for the support I have found from both of them as I work to earn my wings as mayor.

18. Waste Water Treatment Operator Mike McGuiness.

Mike's got an odd job: make sure our dirty business gets cleaned up so that we never even think about it. And he does so effectively. Even though our aging plant is often pressed beyond its capacity, he quietly goes about his work without any fanfare. We should all be so very grateful.

19. The rest of the Public Works Crew: Tim Berning, Joe Fostvedt, Rod Rhodes, Brandon “Tank” Davis and Aaron Robert.

These guys show up, day in and day out, doing good work that benefits us all. Did you know that at Christmastime our garbage guys are known to be gifted by grateful patrons with cookies and other holiday refreshments? To me, that says something of the kind of service they bring to our community.

20. Karen Zimmerman, Cassandra Larson and Carmen Newman.

These three ladies make City Hall the welcoming, hospitable place that it is. They are ever so capable and good at what they do. Everybody knows that mayors come and go but Carmen, our City Clerk/Treasurer, is the mainstay. I can't tell you how much she has helped me get acclimated to serving as mayor as well as navigate the sea of city ordinances she always seems to have at her fingertips.

These two make quite a team!

There's twenty reasons that come to mind in one sitting that make me grateful that I live here. There are others – the people of the fellowship I serve as pastor, the athletes I get to coach on C-WHS' Cross Country team, and the kids I get to read to every week at Roselawn. All of them remind me in one way or another that I live in a good place, made up of good people who regularly make me feel thankful for God's goodness in my life.

A Happy and Blessed Thanksgiving to you and yours!