SNOW - SNOW - SNOW, for you out-of-towners that do not know what it is like at Deer Lake in the winter... it is BEAUTIFUL. By January 10 the snow depth was 14" on Southwood Shores, the ice is pretty well completely covering the lake with 4" to 5" of ice. Skating areas are evident around the shorelines, and snowmobiles can be continuously heard on the weekends. Sledding and tobogganing is also evident around the lake. The pure serenity, "quiet during the week, joyful on the weekends," of Deer Lake living makes this winter especially memorable. There is no winter scene ever pictured, from mountain top to the valley, that compares with what we have right now during January 1982 at Deer Lake. It is our New Year's wish from DLPOA's Board of Directors that all of you can give some thought to your good fortune at having the opportunity and privilege to own recreational property at Deer Lake, Washington and hoping that each and every one of you continue in good health to enjoy all the seasons, just as we picture it each day of our lives.
The DEER LAKE FIRE DEPT. received a rebuilt 4-wheel drive vehicle with a 9000 Ib. winch, to back up an older fire truck and to respond to areas where the larger fire trucks have difficulty. Your tax dollars are partly responsible for this acquisition, along with the great efforts of Quetta Collins, Fire Chief, and her volunteer fire fighters, and some help from certain Directors of DLPOA, who are actively involved in seeing that our Deer Lake Fire Dept. be updated. Thanks also to the Fire Commissioners of Stevens Co. who had the final say in making this possible. (Point of information: Deer Lake Fire Dept. now has 15 trained volunteers. Loon Lake Fire Dept. has 11 trained volunteers plus four emergency medical technicians ... all to serve you better.)
SECURITY: At our October 1981 Board of Directors meeting, two of our guests were Max Beno, a resident of Deer Lake and Brian Ross of Security Center Northwest. Mr. Beno has installed a burglar alarm system to discourage burglaries and vandalism to his home. Different Board members, concerned over increasing illegal activities around the lake, were enlightened over different types of security systems as outlined by Mr. Ross. One system has intrusion detection devices consisting of magnetic contacts for doors or windows and five feet of under carpet pressure mat material. The system is controlled by a central control unit which when entry is gained, triggers an externally mounted siren which runs for a certain period - 5 to 30 minutes- and then shuts off. Other systems can have ultrasonic motion detectors, infra-red hallway beams, fire/smoke detection systems and other features which may appeal to your particular circumstances.
Needless to say the whole concept of security systems should open the door for your investigation. Security Systems NW., located at N. 726 Monroe St., can answer many of your questions. Prices are as low as $285.00 with a 15 discount offered to Deer Lake property owners and other area residents who might be interested.
The protection of your property is your responsibility. The Sheriff's Dept., with limited manpower, cannot always be there when needed. This may be one area to look at for your own protection. (The Deer Lake Property Owners Assoc. makes no claim or warranties as to the effectiveness of this equipment and/or to its proper installation, but offers this information as a service to the property owners, recognizing the possibility for break-ins, theft, vandalism, etc., and in no way does DLPOA endorse this product or assume any responsibility in this regard.)
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There is nothing, Sir, too little for so little a creature as man. It is by studying little things that we attain the great art of having as little misery and as much happiness as possible. -Samuel Johnson.
LOON LAKE FIRE DEPT. personnel are happy to have their fire truck back in operation. It was recently damaged on a false alarm call, on the Grouse Creek Road. The truck was covered by insurance and the work was done by Washington Auto Carriage in Spokane. We were sorry to hear about the bad luck and grateful no one was injured.
The Loon Lake Fire Dept. recently responded to the train derailment at Loon Lake, with both the fire truck and the Rapid Response Vehicle. Ammonia nitrate fertilizer, in pellet form, had been spilled. The fertilizer is not dangerous unless it catches fire or gets into a creek, etc. The Loon Lake Fire Dept. was not able to be of assistance. The railroad people covered the fertilizer with tarps and later completed clean-up operations.
Recently the fire dept. personnel took an inventory of the equipment in the Rapid Response Vehicle, and at the same time marked and color coded the equipment. Also a representative from Hurst gave a nice demonstration in a piece of highly efficient rescue equipment, which is used to cut open or try open a vehicle for entry, to remove a person or object. AGAIN, we are certainly very thankful for the fast, efficient service that our Loon Lake Fire Dept. and Rapid Response Vehicle gives us. (We are also thankful for the donation of a set of new chains for the Rapid Response Vehicle.) -Jerry Linton
PLANNING HEARING: Ted Maxson reports that after two recent Hearings by the Stevens County Planning Commission, the county is taking a continued look at the larger perspective of all of Stevens County in its future planning ordinances. DLPOA has and will continue to suggest that Deer Lake needs individual codes on building, density, etc., that may differ from other areas in the county. We have taken detailed steps in preparing our suggestions to the Planning Commission. These suggestions would give the county more control over future growth on Deer Lake. Again we are keeping an open line to Colville on this and encourage your individual comments.
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A guy wanted to take a plane ride, but the fare was $35 and he had only $25. So he took the $25 to a pawn shop and hocked it for $20. Then he sold the pawn ticket to a passerby for $15, giving him the $35 he needed.
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FISHERIES: Wes Wagoneer reported at the Jan. DLPOA Directors meeting that he has hatched about 30,000 rainbow trout eggs and they seem to be doing well. Wes figures that 25 of the trout will probably mature to legal limit size. Again this effort by Wes in his own fish hatchery helps the fishermen and the State Fish & Game to supplement their planting efforts each spring.
NEWSLETTER: Bill and Eleanor Paton are redoing our mailing lists and are trying to update. If anyone knows of any changes in property ownership or neighbors not getting the Newsletter, please contact Bill at 233-2348 or Rt. 1 Box 588, Loon Lake, WA 99148. Bill and Eleanor are also in charge of distributing the Newsletter. One of the many services which you are provided by your many volunteer neighbors on Deer Lake is the publishing and distributing a quarterly Newsletter to all property owners. DLPOA feels that a line of communication is important in the dissemination of information. We hope you share this thought and help Bill get all the updated addresses that we need. It should be noted that our postage rates doubled for 1982 for mailing the Newsletter. One thinks out loud about maybe mailing just to members of DLPOA rather than all property owners.
SHORELINES: DLPOA went on record by the action of the Board of Directors by the following Resolution approved at the Nov. 11, 1981 meeting:
BE IT RESOLVED:
Recognizing the potential direct and/or indirect impact of a lake by lake determination of the line of navigability by the Dept. of Natural Resources and whereas the importance of a legal precedent being established in any pending legal action to the benefit or detriment of the Deer Lake Property Owners. Therefore, be it resolved that the Deer Lake Property Owners Assoc. goes on record in support of pending legal action and will further pledge $500.00 to this action by the Diamond Lake Assoc. to be retained by the Deer Lake Property Owners Assoc. until such time as legal action has been filed and monies properly requested by the Diamond Lake Improvement Assoc. ..."
In return, J. David Key, President of the Diamond Lake Improvement Assoc. was most appreciative of our reassuring support and generosity.
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"Many a man in love with a dimple makes the mistake of marrying the whole girl."