April 15,1978 (and May 25, 1978 below)
Sewer District. Well, we finally have a more specific word for you as the sewer project draws one step nearer. The required number of affirmative petitions of property owners has been validated and certified. This report was given by the Commissioners of PUD meeting with your Board of Directors of the Property Owners Association on March 15.
Formation of the Sewer District. Requests for government funds to help with major financing of the project and final engineering design now rests with the PUD.
A little history reminds us that a feasibility study of a sewer system for Deer Lake was completed several years ago; the "vote" of the people in the form of a petition is now in. The Board of DLPOA, as the only viable organization on the lake, sought the wishes of property owners by mail. The replies by owners were overwhelming requesting your board to prepare and circulate a petition. A sizeable amount of supplemental material was collected and sent with the petitions to help property owners to declare their desires.
Your Board wishes to thank the host of people who have given so freely of their time to accomplish this sizable and expensive job. The matter now rests with the PUD. We'll keep you informed as matters unfold.
Safety Report "Good." The sheriffs office notified us that the past winter season has perhaps been the best with little or no vandalism, or break-ins of cabins and homes.
The regular patrols; signs telling of patrols placed at strategic road junctions and help from the Explorer Scouts working with the Sheriffs Department has helped vitally. These efforts have been cooperative endeavors between DLPOA and County officials.
Water safety measures, including suggestions for revised boat control measures were submitted by your Board to the law enforcement people.
Fish. The season opens near the time of this newsletter. About 40,000 Eastern Brook trout are being or have been planted. Wesley Wagoner, Board member, keeps a sharp eye on fish resources and close to the fish and game people.
Roads. Weight restrictions are in affect on certain main roads to protect them as frost departs and spring comes.
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A word from Board Chairman Bill Paton: "Send your ideas and suggestions for projects or your complaints to help guide the work of your Association. (Address: Deer Lake Property Owners Association, Loon Lake, Washington 99148.)
"Compliments to the Board for almost 100% attendance at the monthly meeting-in spite of hazards of slippery roads, snow, rain, or of the night. Any member of the Association is invited to attend monthly Board meetings at the Washington Water Power building in Deer Park."
A Word from Treasurer Kathryn Bean. "DLPOA is financially sound. Monies from dues and contributions are properly banked and the books are open to any member. A full and complete report will be given at the Annual Meeting in June. "The organization is designated by IRS and the State of Washington as a charitable and educational organization with no tax liabilities. Nonetheless-it is essential to have a large membership with regular dues payment to keep the organization to its full potential of service."
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Nominees for Officers and Directors. Your Directors solicit your nominations for officers and directors to serve next year. Bill Twitchell was designated by President Lee Bassett to receive names. Names will be submitted to the Board which acts as Nominating Committee. Nominations of course, may come from the floor at the annual meeting.
Spring Shore Clean Up. Pride of property owners in the lake reaches a new high each year. Deer Lake is one of the most beautiful in the Inland Empire. Value of homes, cottages and shore line is in direct proportion to the appearance of lake frontages. As the ice goes out boards, logs and general debris drifts in and old sheds and concrete footings sometimes crumble. This makes for an unsightly shore and all of us suffer. Lets designate May and June as "Beach Cleanup."
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A Look at the Lake. The winter edition, 1974-75, of the newsletter edited by Bill Twitchell at that time gave some pertinent information about Deer Lake. By popular request we have taken select items directly from that issue-such as:
- Deer Lake is situated in a beautiful forested basin gouged out of a glacial movement of an ancient ice age.
- The old Indian trail to the east passed just north of the lake. Earliest fur traders and prospectors trod its shores.
- The great gray trout (Mackinaw) from the Great Lakes was introduced about the turn of the century. Thirty or 40 pounders were not uncommon.
- As late as 1939 the local kids used to have a "mud Holiday" every spring. Nothing much more mechanical than a horse could get thru - the roads being what they were.
- Deer Lake grew more slowly than Loon Lake.
- It was shortly after the turn of the century that the big scheme of apple orchards, located in the Deer Park flats, was promoted. The whole stock scheme was dependent to a major degree upon irrigation water from Deer Lake. You can still see the irrigation flume diggings-along the outlet stream of the lake. (More next issue.)
May 25, 1978
Big Event. Annual meeting of the Deer Lake Property Owners Association - June
10, 7:30 p.m. Registration-Coffee, 7:00 p.m. Come one, come all!
This is the key opportunity for all who live full or part time in Deer Lake to come together as a unique community and to declare, "We support the common interests and concerns of the lake." If we are to make the most of living on the shores of one of the chief beauty spots of the Pacific Northwest, attendance is imperative. The heavy investment in time, money and affection for Deer Lake unites us as an association.
The meeting will be to the point and not long. Special and interesting reports on the sewer system, safety, fish, legal matters and the like will bring you up to date. You will have full opportunity to respond to every report with your counsel and suggestions. Your elected representatives need your guidance.
The lake is divided into seven shore-districts. Each has its own elected representative. These and your officers make up the Board of Directors. The Board meets for two or three hours each month. County officials, safety and law enforcement people, legislators and environmentalists as well as fish and game leaders are invited periodically by the Board to learn first hand of the needs of the lake on a face to face basis. Our goal is to make lake-living most pleasant for all. In addition to these monthly meetings, an unbelievable number of hours are spent by Board members on special voluntary assignments.
Election. The seven directors and the officers of the Association are elected at the annual meeting by members. Nominations will be presented by the Board at the annual meeting. You will have full opportunity to make additional nominations from the floor. (Be sure to consult in advance with persons you would like to nominate to determine his or her willingness to serve.)
Treasurer Kathryn Bean and secretary Eleanor Paton will be on hand at 7 p.m. on the 10th to receive dues. While voting is limited to members only, all are cordially invited and urged to attend and to learn more about the lake and the work of the Association. This is an open meeting.
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Clean-up continues. Many have responded to the suggestions in the last NEWSLETTER to clean up the shores of the lake by removing the debris of old boards, logs, crumbled cement and general unsightly stuff which has drifted in or accumulated on the beaches. Good work!
Sanitary landfill. Your Board met recently with county commissioner Roy Richmond and gave strong urgency to the maintaince and continuance of a 'refuse' dump in our area.
Safety. Sheriff Chan St. Clair of Stevens County was presented with a membership in DLPOA a few days ago at the May Board meeting. He has worked closely with our Association.
A profitable exchange of questions and suggestions on road and lake safety measures made the session a good one. He reports that:
-Vandalism on the lake this winter has been held to an all time low.
-Splendid cooperation exists between his office, the Explorer Scout and Rescue Post and DLPOA.
-Boating regulations are under review by his office. (Howard Wohrle and his committee of DLPOA have been most efficient in helping).
-Road traffic, cross-walks will be given consideration.
Another bit of history (from NEWSLETTER by Bill Twitchell - Winter Edition 1974-75)
-"Up until WWII, the south side of the lake was virtually unpopulated except for a colony of beaver who had a big house right in the middle of what was known as Mackinaw Bay. Bass fishermen cruising the darkened shoreline would nearly always be greeted with that resounding "wack" of a startled beaver.
- "Resorts" on the lake had their hay day from about WWI to WWII. Old timers will remember the names: Snyders, Macks, Andersons, Barrows, Haneys and many others in between.
- Deer Lake has always prided itself on the clearest, sweetest water this side of heaven - we could kneel down and drink anywhere along the shore.
- "Alas, this is not time anymore: not entirely anyway, and each property owner has an absolute responsibilty to himself and to his neighbors to do everything necessary to insure the potability does not deteriorate further. Each user of lake water for household use should be alert to the fact that there may be contamination, and that the water should be boiled or treated before using." (You can get a sample tested inColville.)
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Your Board has been advised by letter that a Springdale Medical Clinic with a physician assistant, is now open. Office hours and phone numbers supplied the Board: Tuesday thru Friday 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.; Saturdays 9:00 a.m. to 1 p.m. Clinic number 258-4234 and emergency after hours 258-7153. (These are long distance numbers from Loon Lake, Deer Lake, phones.)