March 1989
As such was the life of Ted Maxson. His death is a great loss to us all.
Ted's noted accomplishments were many, but if you only casually knew him, you would not have been aware of them. He did not wear them like a coat-of-arms. However, in conversation with him, you realized his intellect, his strength, his gentleness, his kindness and, most of all, his Christian love of others.
Ted Maxson was a charter member of DLPOA in 1973, but his roots to Deer Lake were still older. He loved the lake and made sure that his retirement years would be spent by it.
Ted was the leader in writing the constitution and by-laws of DLPOA and a leader in the initial effort in 1978 of sewering the lake. Most recently, Ted wrote the Deer Lake Planning District Zoning Ordinance. This was presented to the Stevens County Planning Commission and will soon be ready for public hearing and hopefully, adoption into law. More importantly, Ted was the guiding counsel behind the officers and directors of DLPOA, having himself been a directory for many years. He was well known for his sharp intellectual reasoning powers and for his ability of verbal and written expression.
I cannot say that I knew Ted well. However, we all know that Ted was a builder. I don't mean just a carpenter, a brick layer or a remodeler (all of which he did and enjoyed), but Ted had the capacity to build character in people. Every time you talk to him, he made you feel good, important, and better than you felt of yourself before. He was a motivator and an achiever and was loved by us all.
Here are some thoughts and comments of DLPOA members about him:
"Ted had compassion for you and for everybody. He always had time for you. No matter what the question was, Ted was there to help you. He could express himself better than anyone. I had only admiration for him". - Bill Paton
"When talking to him, he made you feel that you were the most important person to him". - Jerry McBride.
"A very learned person. Definitely, the most ideal person - charm, wit, thoughtfull, intelligent". - Clyde Innes.
"I was his neighbor of 15 years. He was one of the nicest guys to give you any help if you d needed it. His loss will impact all of us. He was a super guy." - LeRoy Johnson.
"Ted was a friendly neighbor. He would do anything for you - he sure would." - Inga Lord.
Ray Smith, a minister at the First Presbyterian Church in Spokane, at Ted's memorial service probably summarized everyone's reflections on the life of Ted when he said: "Ted Maxson thought great thoughts and did great deeds. Others have thoughts but not deeds. Ted had both."
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From the President's Desk by Lee Bayley
The amount of time and energy that your DLPOA board of directors is expending on the Deer Lake sewer project is amazing. The Stevens County PUD #1 has assured DLPOA that everything is progressing on schedule and that construction will begin in June, 1989. After two years of visible poor water quality in Deer Lake it is a relief to know that the long term solution to this is in sight.
"Hats off" to Jerry McBride, Lila Howe and other members of this hard working committee who are involved in day to day monitoring the progress of the sewer system. Because this project is so important in this phase of its planning, most of DLPOA's time has been allotted to it. However , other things are slowly maturing after years of work by Ted Maxson, Ed Sweet, and members of our Planning District committee.
The monumental work, "Deer Lake Planning District Zoning Ordinance", of this committee was published in its entirety in our 11/88 newsletter. It has been presented at different workshops of the Stevens County Planning Commission. Now it is being prepared for initial hearings. The committee's thesis is that what we do around the lake is as important to the preservation of Deer Lake as what is happening in the lake. Not only what we build but where we build and how it is built is important to you and your neighbors, as we all are affected by it. Building activity lends to pollution in the lake unless some minimum controls are in place and enforced. That goodness that most of the development around the lake is complete! As mentioned previously, public hearings on our zoning plan will be held. You are encouraged to attend and express your views.
DLPOA has attempted only to clarify a rational approach to building around the lake - not to stop building or even to slow it down. Any ordinance enacted now is, in fact, a little like closing the barn door after the horse has run away. Or, better yet, it is like doing what should have been done 15-20 years ago when no one in the county had the foresight to put in place sensible long-range plan for growth around Deer Lake.
On the lighter side - Deer Lake is beautiful this time of the year ... frozen over, people ice-skating, snowmobiles and 4-wheelers droning in the background, and the air so crisp, clear, cool and clean. The only blight, as you look around, is the upheaval of ice on the east shore. Many docks received extensive ice damage this winter and will have to be rebuilt. Some water lines were reportedly frozen during the bitterly cold spell, but this is winter. This '88-'89 winter will be remembered for many reasons - right?
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New Wells for Southwood Shores and Julius Terrace by Dick Price, PUD Manager
The PUD has completed new wells for these two areas of the lake. The Southwood Shores well is located near the "Y" road intersection just west of Pinelow Camp. The Julius Terrace well is located behind the Deer Lake Fire Station in the Haney's area. The 8" diameter Southwood Shores well is 185' deep and was recently test pumped at the rate of 230 gallons per minute for a period of 120 continuous hours.
While the first well at Southwood Shores was very successful, it took four tries to connect at Julius Terrace. The first 3 wells,, located above Julius Terrace, produced no water. The decision was then made to try in the Haney's area. There an 8" well, 54' deep was drilled and then test pumped at more than 300 gallons per minute.
The wells will be connected to the systems this year. Because the Julius Terrace well is located approximately halfway between Julius Terrace and the east end of Southwood Shores, the PUD plans to connect the Julius Terrace well to Southwood Shores and thereby eliminate the immediate need for a storage reservoir above Julius Terrace.
Water swervice will be offered to property owners outside of Julius Terrace and Southwood Shores, but not until after the sewer project is completed.
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Water Quality Committee Update by Jerry McBride
There has been a lot of activity the last few months related to putting a sewer around Deer Lake. Here is a summary of what has happened.
Funding:
A $500,000 Block Grant has been awarded the Deer Lake sewer project. The money will be allocated to help low income people pay their share of the sewer system.
After additional meetings with the Washington State DOE, it does not appear that any money from the cigarette tax will be available for the Deer Lake sewer system.
Treatment System:
Two choices are still under consideration:
1. A system operated by the Stevens County PUD and connected to the existing Loon Lake treatment system. Considerable negotiations have been carried on with the Loon Lake people about this. OR
2. A separate Deer Lake treatment system. An engineering report has been submitted to the DOE outlining a separate treatment system. It would be designed and built by the APUD.
At this time a decision has not been made as to which way to go.
Property Easement Agreements.
The PUD has obtained signed agreements from most property owners. Hopefully, the balance will be obtained soon and without resorting to legal action.
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Education Committee By Virg Gering
Pollution Solutions
Weed and Insect Killers
Remember that these products are poisons and can damage helpful animals, insects and plants, as well as the undesirable ones. They can enter the lake and stay active for long periods of time.
Dandelions are a common target in the spring. One alternative is to dig out the plants without using any weed killer at all.
Another alternative is to become more tolerant of dandelions within the lake environment. Although it may not be easy to shift gears and call a truce in our war with weeds it may ultimately be easier on ourselves and on the ecology of the lake.
If you feel like you must use chemicals, please use them sparingly. Do not over apply. Keep back from the water as far as possible.
Diazinon granules are a popular way of dealing with carpenter ants. However, Diazinon is amazingly lethal! If you use the band treatment recommended on the manufacturer's container, it will be deadly to fish and wildlife.
Use Diazinon only in isolated areas where the ants are present. Keep it close to the foundation where it will be kept from washing into the lake. Apply to jar lids or trays to keep the Diazinon from becoming dispersed. The excess can then be removed after the ants are gone.
Fertilizer
Fertilizer contains nitrogen, phosphorus and other elements to make your garden and lawn green. However it can also make the lake green by promoting weed and algae growth.
The EWU study of Deer Lake's water pointed that out, although septic tanks, drainfields and outhouses contribute the major load of nutrients going into the lake. However, fertilizers from lawns are also playing a part in the nutrient loading and the accelerating entrophication of Deer Lake.
In a watershed area, our thinking must be modified to protect the lake. Although a bright green, manicured lawn may be a source of pride in an urban setting, it should not be the same within the perimeter of the lake.
Please limit the amount of fertilizer that you use. Cut down on the size of your lawn by landscaping with bark, rock and shrubs. Do not overwater since this washes the chemicals into the lake, wasting your time and money as well as polluting the lake.
Do not use fertilizer with phosphorus because phosphorus is the trigger element which, when combined with the nitrogen, causes the algae blooms we have seen in the lake during the last two years.
We all play a part in creating the environment we live in. We share the opportunity and the responsibility to protect and improve the lake. Positive action begins on an individual basis .... with each one of us. Deer Lake is a treasure which we all must protect!
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Fisheries Report by Wes Wagoner
The last of December, 1988 I was able to obtain 80,000 Eastern Brook trout eggs. A large percentage of them have hatched and are doing well.
About the 15th of January, 1989 I was able to get 80,000 Rainbow trout eggs. They are now starting to hatch.
Barring any problems with electric power outages or a fungus invasion, there should be a good percentage of fish to add to the fish population in Deer Lake.
Fortunately, during the cold weather we had no problems maintaining the pump and tanks.
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Emergency Services Report by Jerry Linton
In the last newsletter of 11/88 we wrote about the latest work done on the addition to the Deer Lake Fire Station.
Work as been progressing steadily. Much has been accomplished. The building addition is nearly complete, with the exception of a few things yet to be done.
The baseboard heaters will be installed by the Fire District. Some other things which still need to be done are:
Fire Chief Quetta Collin says that the equipment is in good working order, about as good as can be expected.
There are a few new district policies with the fire department personnel will receive in station training.
This winter has been a very quiet one for the fire department. It has received mostly aid calls. There was one chimney fire in Swanson's Addition.