july 2020 page 1 volume 48 no 7 association donna beyer ... · volume 48 no 7 lake carroll news...
TRANSCRIPT
July 2020
Lake Carroll News Page 1
Volume 48 No 7
Lake Carroll News
ASSOCIATION
Table of Contents
Donna Beyer
Board of Directors Meetings
7/30 6pm via Zoom
Dear Fellow Lake Carroll Members, We have recently passed the midpoint in this extremely challenging year and now is a good time to summarize things. In the next few days, our plan is to reopen our Lodge and Fitness
Center, with restrictions, in compliance with the Governor’s order and Phase IV of his Reopen Illinois Plan. As you are aware, the Governor has stated that Illinois will not move to Phase V, a complete reopening, or “normal” until a vaccine is developed, and some percentage of the population has been vaccinated. To us here at Lake Carroll, this means that with the addition to the two re-openings mentioned above, we will be at our “new normal” for the remainder of the year. Many states are currently experiencing a resurgence of the coronavirus and there remains the possibility that Illinois, too, could experience this. Our concern is if this happens, the Governor will again impose restrictions on our operations here at Lake Carroll. As of the end of May our Association is in a positive position relative to our budget. We are awaiting final June results but are optimistic that they may be positive, as well. Make no mistake, the positive position is a direct result of the infusion of the $434K from the forgivable federal Paycheck Protection Plan loan that we received from the Small Business Administration. At the end of June, all money from the PPP has been expensed to our payroll. Approximately one half of April’s payroll, all of May’s, and about half of June’s payroll was paid by the PPP loan. Beginning in July, and for the remainder of the year, our payroll will be unsubsidized. Our revenue streams from the Clubhouse and Golf Course amenities, budgeted to be approximately $1.2M, have been severely disrupted. Most all events have been canceled based on the uncertainty of the virus situation. Being that we have moved to Phase IV, department managers are feverishly trying to recapture some of these events within the guidelines of the new restrictions. At this moment, we are cautiously optimistic.
President’s Message By Tom Bogusevic, Board President
INTERESTED IN RUNNING FOR THE LCA BOARD?
There are two positions open on the Board this year. If you are interested in running, petition information and forms will be available at the LCA Office beginning Saturday, August 1, 2020. Candidate Petitions must be turned into the Admin Office by 4:15 pm, Monday, August 31, 2020. Ballot name order is determined by the order in which Petitions are time stamped. Please refer to the Lake Carroll By-Laws to see what being a “Board Member” entails.
MANDATORY HUNTERS MEETINGS
You must attend one of these meetings to qualify to hunt in LC.
Sat 8/1 or Sun 8/16 9am @ Lodge See page 8 for details.
Administration Amenity Status.......................................... 2 Office Hours ............................................. 2 Staff Directory .......................................... 2 Board of Directors BOD Meeting Schedule ............................ 1 BOD Member List .................................... 2 Board Candidate Applications ................... 1 President’s Message .................................. 1 Church at the Lake .................................... 6 Clubhouse - Hours & Menu Links.............. 8 Welcome to the Clubhouse ........................ 8 Communication Committees/Board Liaisons ...................... 2 Join LC Facebook Groups ......................... 8 LC Refuse & Recycling ............................ 3 Real Estate Pulse ....................................... 3 Reverse911 System ................................... 2 Farmers Market ......................................... 9 Golf Adopt A Tee ............................................. 3 From the Pro ............................................. 8 Golf Events 2020 Golf Events ...................................... 8 Camp—Pee Wee & Youth ....................... 8 Lake & Natural Resources Bass Tournament Results .......................... 7 Bass Tourney Rules (link) ......................... 2 Bass Tourney Schedule ............................. 2 Bluebirds .................................................. 6 Catch of the Day ....................................... 6 Hunters Meetings ...................................... 9 Lake & Natural Resources - Bluegills ....... 5 Lake Weeds .............................................. 7 Obituaries Dave Hilt .................................................. 9 Bruce McDonald ....................................... 9 Prairie Club ................................................ 7 Safety & Security/EMS Did You Know .......................................... 4 Security Fines ........................................... 5 Safety First................................................ 3 Security Notes ........................................... 4 Social Distancing Event Find “FISH”.............................................. 9
Continued on page 2
July 2020
Lake Carroll News Page 2
LAKE CARROLL ASSOCIATION
3-200 Association Dr. Lake Carroll, IL 61046
815.493.2552 | Fax: 815.493.2883
Lake Carroll 2020 Board of Directors
President Tom Bogusevic
[email protected] Cell: 708.269.2137
Vice President Alan Cazzato
[email protected] Cell: 312.446.2950
Secretary
Cliff Mortenson [email protected] Cell: 630.768.0454
Board Treasurer
Steve Mack [email protected]
Phone: 847.657.6600 x106
Board Director Betty Carrubba
[email protected] Cell: 847.903.3681
Board Director
Steve Daugherty [email protected]
Cell: 630.546.2303
Board Director Ryan FitzSimmons [email protected] Cell: 847.772.7883
Lake Carroll 2020
Standing Board
Committee Liaisons
A&E Cliff Mortenson
By-Laws Ryan FitzSimmons
Campground Tom Bogusevic
Clubhouse Betty Carrubba
Finance Steve Mack
Golf Course Tom Bogusevic
Infrastructure Cliff Mortenson
Lake & LIP Ryan FitzSimmons
Marketing Alan Cazzato
Recreation Betty Carrubba
Safety Steve Daugherty
Steering Steve Mack
Wildlife Alan Cazzato Watch the weekly emails for updates.
LCA AMENITIES, FACILITIES,
& SERVICES STATUS
OPEN W/ RESTRICTIONS Administration Office
Aquatic Complex - Outdoor Pool Campground & Shower House Clubhouse Restaurant & Bar
Golf Course & Pro Shop Lake
Trail System W Marina Dockside Gas & Oil
CLOSED
Lodge / Fitness Center / Tennis Courts W Marina Concession & Shower House
OFFICE DIRECTORY 110 Carly Kruse Front Desk Associate 111 Donna Beyer Communications Director 112 Dick Schwalbenberg General Manager 113 Lisa Vanderheyden Finance/HR Director 114 Mary VanRaden Accounts Receivable 115 Sara Ashby Marketing Manager 117 Michelle Burton Office Mgr/Owner Liaison 118 Luke Fossett Security Supervisor 119 Joyce Stadel Finance Assistant
DIRECT DIAL Don Aleksy, Facilities Dir
…………………...815.291.2898 Donna Aleksy, Recreation Dir
…………………...815.499.5425 Sarah Heckman, Events Coordntr
…………………...815.291.9298 Dee Kuhlemeier, Clubhouse Mgr
…………………...815.821.5297 Lake Carroll Security
…………………...815.275.6122 Doug Rominski, Building Insp
…………………...815.821.5296 Joe Rush, Lake Manager
…………………...815.297.5637 Carroll Co. Sheriff
…………………...815.244.2635 Emergency………………….. 911 LC Security………..815.275.6122
Association Business Hours
Monday-Friday 8:00am-12:00pm 12:30pm-4:30pm
Saturday 9:00am-1:00pm
2020 Bass Fishing Tournament Schedule
Sponsored by Lake Carroll Fishing Club
Sat 8/22 6am-12pm
Sat 9/12 7am-1pm
Sat 10/3 7am-1pm Classic Invitational
Sun 10/4 7am-1pm Classic Invitational
For the 2020 Bass
Fishing Tourna-
ment Rules click
We have scheduled our next Board of Directors meeting for Thursday, July 30 at 6:00PM. During this Zoom meeting we are planning to review our financial position thru June, as well as discuss how we hope to proceed for the rest of the year. At the beginning of the year, Joe Rush, our Lake Manager, let us know that with the warmer than usual winter and the higher water clarity of our lake would have us experience more weeds this year than last. He was correct. Weed cutting on the lake is being done daily by our maintenance staff; a chemical spraying program is also being utilized. We have clearly heard from our members that our guest pass program is not meeting our member needs. Our General Manager and his staff are expected to propose solutions that can better meet our objectives. All signs are showing that our Lake Carroll real estate market is healthy this year. Both homes and lots have been selling relatively briskly. Perhaps this is due in part to the pandemic? Our shared billboard advertisement with realtors, implemented along I-88 at Eola Road, is generating leads that have been passed along to our realtors, as well as the leads generated by our new website and the Lake Carroll public Facebook page. Now that we are about to be running at our “new normal” we would like to thank and commend our members for their patience and understanding shown as we have navigated our way through a very difficult first half of 2020. There is still a long way to go, but it seems that members are enjoying the lake, the beach, and the pool again notwithstanding the new restrictions. We need to continue to remain vigilant. The wearing of masks and social distancing plays an important part in stopping the spread of the coronavirus and protecting our community. Please continue to remain patient and understanding as our staff continues to adjust to the restrictions imposed on our great Lake Carroll community.
President’s Message continued from page 1
LCA Reverse911 System
Lake Carroll has a communication system in place called Reverse911 to alert you when there are situations that are deemed urgent by LC Security or Management. You may receive the alerts via phone call or text messages. You must first be registered with our emergency notification system. Follow this link to the communication form. Once you have completed the form return it to the Admin office via mail or it can be dropped off, faxed to 815.493.2883, or emailed to [email protected]. Once you are registered, you can opt-in to TEXT alerts by texting ALERT to 22300. If you do not wish to receive text messages you can choose to receive alerts via voice.
July 2020
Lake Carroll News Page 3
Adopt-a-Hole
A project by the Lake Carroll Golf Committee
Our golf course is ranked as one of the best courses in Northwest Illinois. It is enjoyable to play and beautiful to view. It is maintained extremely well by Tim Throop and his team of only four. They should be congratulated for the excellent job they do. Our Lake Carroll Golf Course has about 22,000 rounds per year. With each swing of the golf club in each round is the possibility of a divot. A divot is when the golf club impacts the ground and removes grass and dirt. If not replaced or filled with sand and seed, this will cause a wound in our beautiful course. Tim and his team do not have time to repair all of these wounds. YOU CAN HELP. We are asking for volunteers to Adopt-a-Hole. For the hole you adopt, you would put a mixture of sand and seed in each of the divots in the tee box and fairways. Tim will supply the sand and seed mix needed to fill in the divots. If you do this every few days, it only takes about 15 minutes to walk your hole. This will allow the fairways to fill in the divots and let the wounds heal, bringing our golf course back to the condition we love. If you are interested in our Adopt-a-Hole program, contact Don Robinson at 630-913-0094. We Thank You.
July’s article is a must read if you are going to own and operate a boat on our lake, or be a passenger in a boat on Lake Carroll. Don't overload your boat, know the capacity. Make sure you have lifejackets for every person in the boat, and make sure they are the appropriate size for each person. Children MUST be wearing their lifejackets; it’s a State law. If you are pulling a skier or tuber, it's a good idea to have either your spotter, or someone else on the boat, preferably a good swimmer wearing a life jacket and ready to jump in the water at a moment’s notice. What if injury would occur to the person you are pulling? Are you ready to immediately have a person or two jump in the water and save their life? Many people don't think of that. Everyone is using the required orange safety flags, and that's great. One flag up if you're pulling someone behind your boat and two flags up when that person has fallen into the water. Now when you're following someone pulling a skier or tuber, do not follow too closely, nor follow directly behind them. If they should fall in the water, you may not notice them quickly enough and could cause some serious injury. If you have a jet ski and you are allowing a visitor to ride it, please give them the proper instructions on our lake safety rules such as our no wake zone's, speed limit, and our counterclockwise direction of travel rule. If you are out for a leisurely ride, as most people are, please be very aware of people pulling tubers or skiers and jet skis. All these crafts may be making sudden and unexpected turns in front of you; NEVER follow too closely. After you've had your fun let's talk about taking the boat out of the water. Many people have a real problem with this. First of all, have all your passengers get out of your boat before you try and put it on the trailer. This will make the boat lighter and easier to slide onto the trailer. For the person standing in the water hooking the winch strap onto the front of the boat, please be aware that the takeout areas can become very slippery. You don't want to slip and slide down underneath the trailer. What if you're just pulling back into your boat slip and it is very windy ...what do you do? Try to go into the wind when you're pulling into your slip. That might mean pulling into the marina area and going past your parking area, only to turn around facing the wind and then pull into your slip. Keep the wind blowing in your face and you will have better control. When the wind blows against your back, the wind has more control over your boat. Once you're pulling in, it seems that half the people want to help you get the boat docked, and the other half stand up and scurry around to find shoes and whatever else they brought with them, preparing to exit the boat. This causes confusion and the captain of the boat cannot see where they are going. It is best to ask everyone to remain seated and have one person stand up and either throw a rope to the people on the dock to help you, or grab one of the poles to pull the boat close enough to the dock to tie up. Whatever you do, please do not sit on the very front bow of the boat or
Safety First By Matt Ripplinger
Member of the Safety and Security Committee
Continued on page 4
Refuse Pick-Up It has been observed that some homeowners putting their refuse out the morning of, are missing the pick-up. We have confirmed that Moring begins their pick-up at 6:00 am. A few reminders from LCA: - You must pull your trash receptacles from the street within 24
hours of the pick-up time. - You cannot drop your refuse into another homeowner’s dumpster
or receptacle without their permission. - You cannot dispose of your refuse at the burn area behind the dam. Recycling Moring Disposal has notified us that they will continue to pick up the blue recycle bags. When you run out of the blue bags that you picked up from Trailside, you cannot use blue bags from any other store. Trailside bags were specific to Lake Carroll customers. Steve Moring assured us they are working on an alternative to the
bag recycling program. They will notify their customers when they
have that alternative service to offer.
Lake Carroll Refuse & Recycling
July 2020
Lake Carroll News Page 4
Security Stats for May 2020:
I would like to express my gratitude to my staff. At times being a security officer is a thankless job. From chasing a bat out of a residence, to seeing people on their absolute worst day, and everything in between. My staff has been through a lot this year, with the pandemic being at the top of the list. The stresses of being an EMT / EMR and dealing with the public during the pandemic cannot be understated. The pandemic caused the department to be short staffed because an officer was unable to complete his Emergency Medical Responder training and take over a full-time position that was available. Many of my officers stepped up and helped cover the shifts that needed to be filled. There have been several new protocols that were adapted during this pandemic and my staff handled the changes seamlessly. I am fortunate and humbled to have such a dedicated and hard-working staff. “Thank you for all you do for the Lake Carroll community.” MARINA PARKING Please consider carpooling when parking at one of the marinas, as space is limited. At the East Marina parking area, there is enough room for a second row when parking in the middle of the lot. Please consider this when parking as this available space is not being utilized. MEMORIAL DAY WEEKEND Memorial Day Weekend went well from a security standpoint. Saturday was a wash out due to rain, but Sunday and Monday were both very busy. No accidents or incidents were reported on the lake. There was a UTV accident on Friday evening and a young lady sustained a serious arm injury. During Memorial Day weekend the Security Department issued 37 written and verbal warnings, checked 27 fishing licenses and creel limits, checked 468 vehicles at the marinas, checked 84 ATV’s, and assisted 5 boats on the water.
I’ll provide information on the July 4th weekend in my next article. IDENTIFICATION REQUIREMENTS All piers, docks, boat lifts and swim platforms must have section and lot numbers and reflective devices above the waterline and visible from the lake. This information is located in the Lake Carroll Governing Documents Title V. Rules and Regulations, Chapter 53.08 (D). DOGS MUST BE LEASHED We are still having issues with dogs that are not leashed. The Rules and Regulations clearly state in 50.06 (H)(1)(2) & (3) dogs always need to be leashed when not on your property. When a dog is on your property and leaves your property for whatever reason and harasses or intimidates other property owners who are trying to enjoy their property or taking a walk, YOU are responsible for that dog. PEDESTRIANS Attention walkers, joggers, bikers: when out enjoying the beauty of Lake Carroll, please be aware of your surroundings. I have received several complaints of people not yielding the right of way to traffic and are not aware there are vehicles behind them. For safety purposes you should: - Always walk or jog into the flow of traffic, not with the flow. You should only wear one ear bud so you can hear an oncoming vehicle. - Always ride a bike with the flow of traffic and use proper hand signals. Again, if you are using ear buds you should only have it in one ear. 2020 DECALS MUST BE DISPLAYED Your 2020 vehicle, boat, ATV, golf cart and camper LCA decals should be displayed. I encourage everyone to view the Lake Carroll Code of Ordinances. A couple minutes reviewing the Rules and Regulations can make everyone’s experience more enjoyable at Lake Carroll. Not knowing a rule is not an excuse to violate one. I would like to wish all the property owners and their guests a safe and enjoyable summer season and DON’T’ FORGET YEILD TO YELLOW!!! If you have any questions, complaints or compliments, please feel free to contact me at 815.493.2552 ext.118 or e-mail me at [email protected]. If the Security Department can be of any assistance to you, we may be contacted 24 hours a day, 7 days a week at 815.493.2599 or 815.275.6122.
stand on the front swinging a docking pole around trying to hook onto something. You are destined to fall in the water right in front of the boat, or worse yet between the boat and the pier = instant disaster. In closing, have respect for the boat owner. Don't just exit the boat and run for your car. Stop and ask if you can help cover the boat or carry anything to the car or house? You might ask the captain if he or she would like some help snapping the cover back onto the boat. It's much easier with another pair of hands to help you.
Boat registration stickers from the State expire on June 30th. Your sticker is good for three (3) years. Have you looked at yours? Be sure to renew it in time that you don’t have a lapse in your registration. Also, be sure to provide a copy, or stop by the office, so they can update their files. Please be careful if you’re drinking alcoholic beverages and boating. Hot sun and alcohol can be a deadly combination. Just so you know, occasionally the Illinois Department of Natural Resources (IDNR) patrols Lake Carroll. They have the authority to arrest for DUI. Let's all have a fun boating season, and let's all stay safe!
Security Notes By Luke Fossett, Security Supervisor
Lake Carroll Security can be reached
24/7 at 815.275.6122
DID YOU KNOW
ATV’s & UTV’s are
prohibited from joyriding or
crossing private lots. This
information is located in the
Lake Carroll Governing
Documents Title V. Rules
and Regulations, Chapter
53.02 (B)(5)&(6).
All garbage receptacles
must be returned to
residence within 24 hours of
garbage pickup. All garbage
must be placed in a proper
receptacle to avoid the
garbage being distributed
throughout the area by local
wildlife. Moring Disposal
offers receptacles and
residential garbage service
that will return your
receptacles to your property.
This information is located
in the Lake Carroll
Governing Documents Title
V. Rules and Regulations,
Chapter 50.06 (F)(2).
House Checks- 2954 Amenity Checks – 926 Service Calls- 139 Complaints- 19 Deliveries- 19 Assist Motorists- 5 Alarms- 3
Ambulance Calls- 5 Fire Department Calls-1 Fishing License Checked- 46 Creel Limits Checked- 46 Vehicles Checked- 788 UTV / ATV Checked- 138 Boats Assisted- 11
Safety First continued from page 3
July 2020
Lake Carroll News Page 5
Bluegill are a well sought-after gamefish in Illinois. In fact, the Illinois state fish is
the bluegill. Historically, anglers have believed that bluegill needed to be harvested in high numbers to ensure this species doesn’t overpopulate and ‘stunt’. However, recent research is suggesting that this may not be the case. First of all, we need to understand bluegill biology and reproductive behavior. This could be a dissertation of information if we wanted, but to keep it simple, when big male bluegills are present, growth rates are faster and average bluegill sizes in the fishery are larger. Absence of big males = slower growth and smaller average size of reproductive bluegill. The reason this happens in bluegill is that bluegill are social creatures, nesting in colonies. When big males are not present, males will reach sexual maturity EARLIER (at a smaller size) and therefore growth is reduced because more energy is put into reproduction and LESS into growth to get them to that bigger size. Pete Jacobson, A biologist in Minnesota, observed that bluegill at age-7 were 7” to 8” in lakes with a 10 fish harvest limit compared to 6” to 6 ½” in 30 fish limit lakes. A 1 to 1 ½ inch difference doesn’t sound like much, but the fish in the 10 limit lakes were nearly double the weight as those in the 30 limit lakes. Andrew Rypel (research biologist with the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources) was published in the North American Journal of Fisheries Management for his research on the “Effects of a Reduced Daily Bag Limit on Bluegill Size Structure in Wisconsin Lakes”. This research studied the effects of reducing the aggregate bag limit of bluegill from 25 to 10 on seven different lakes in Wisconsin. This studied concluded that across all lakes, mean total length of sampled bluegills was significantly greater in treatment lakes than in control lakes after the regulation was implemented. Illinois DNR biologist, Mike Mounce, has been working on bluegill research on Walnut Point Lake in Central Illinois and has access to fisheries research data all the way back to 1987. Over the years they have implemented three different strategies for quality bluegill management. From 1987- 1998, they had no regulations. From 1999-2006 they had a minimum length limit on bluegills. Then from 2007 to present they have been working on a maximum length limit regulation. This regulation allows for the harvest of up to 25 bluegill daily, but only 5 of those fish can be over 8” in length. Any other 8” plus fish must be released back. Since the start of the maximum daily limits, the numbers of bluegill over 8” in the population is much higher than the other two management options utilized at Walnut Point Lake, and they have been able to see these higher catch rates maintained for eleven consecutive years. Here are some bullet points from the
information on Walnut Point Lake from Biologist Mike Mounce: Bluegill Research Results:
• Lakes closed to fishing (angling) support higher quality bluegill populations
• Once opened to unregulated angling, the average size of bluegill quickly declines due to over harvest of the larger bluegill.
• Largest males get the best nest location in nesting colonies (the center nest). Females lay the vast majority of eggs in these central nests guarded by larger males, while the surrounding nests of smaller males get very few or no eggs.
• Just the simple presence of large male bluegill can result in the delay of sexual maturity of smaller male bluegill due to this competition for prime nests and eggs. Delayed sexual maturity results in faster growth rates for all bluegill.
• Time and energy invested in spawning slows growth significantly in most fishes.
• Anglers want and will increase trip numbers for quality bluegill fisheries.
• Effective management for quality bluegill angling should focus on increasing the age of maturation and abundance of large male bluegill.
Along with these bullet points, here are some strategies for improving the fishery. Recent studies show that harvesting the largest bluegill caught can actually hurt the quality of the fishery. Releasing these big bluegills can delay sexual maturity of smaller bluegills, allowing them to have better growth. By taking pictures of these trophies and releasing them, you can still enjoy the fishery while significantly improving the angling quality for the future. However, angler cooperation is the KEY and these management practices can only work when all anglers work on this common goal. With bluegill reproductive size being closely associated with the largest males in the colonies, it is important to have big males in a fishery that desires to keep quality bluegill fishing.
Lake & Natural Resources By Joe Rush, Lake Manager
July 2020
Lake Carroll News Page 6
July is a very active month for bluebirds. Nesting is in full swing, but unfortunately it is the busy time for sparrows and wrens also. That's why bluebird houses need to be checked often to remove the start of unwanted nests. We check the thirty birdhouses on the golf course at least once per week. There's been lots of bluebird nests made and eggs laid, but the success rate of baby birds fledging hasn't been good. Wrens seem to be the worst problem this year with either poking holes in the bluebird eggs or removing the eggs and /or baby birds completely. We've seen them build their nests right on top of the bluebird eggs. Quite a few baby bluebirds almost at the fledging stage have also been smothered by gnats this year, although that seems to have slowed down a bit as of this writing. The third nesting in late July and going into September sometimes is the most successful because there's less competition for nesting sites. If you're still thinking about raising bluebirds yourself but haven't gotten around to it, we still have bluebird houses available from BAN (Bluebirds Across Nebraska). They're the nonprofit group that donated all the birdhouses to Lake Carroll on the golf course. They have also given a couple to the Prairie Club and hope to provide more as the Prairie Club continues to grow and expand at Lake Carroll. You can learn more about BAN at www.bbne.org. For a $25 donation through us to BAN, we can give you a bluebird house with the mounting
pole and all the literature with pictures that you will need to get started. Personally, I don't think you can find a better bluebird house for the money anywhere. If you’re interested, send us an email at [email protected]. Thanks for helping us help the Lake Carroll bluebirds. Sometimes even Mother Nature needs some help.
Lake Carroll Bluebirds By Tom & Jan Young, 24-119
Dan Aho
Catch of the Day LCA Lake Manager, Joe Rush, invites Members to submit photos
of the LC fishing catches. It doesn’t matter if the catch is big or small, he enjoys seeing them all. Send your “LC Catch of the Day” to
[email protected]. Happy Fishing!
Church at the Lake 8:30am every Sunday
Every Sunday through October 1 at the East Marina Pavilion
In case of rain, we will meet at Channel Seed on Rt 73
just north of Peace and Quiet Rd.
Everyone is welcome!
Opportunity for Musicians
If you would like to
play at the Church at
the Lake service,
contact Deb Endress
at 815.275.1655
I fished the tournament with my grandsons a couple weeks ago. We took 2nd place with 18.8 lbs, as well as the largest bass which weighed 6.75 lbs. We were told it's the biggest ever weighed in a tournament at Lake Carroll. Needless to say Casey was smiling for a long time!! Great job with the lake!!
Rich Lowitzki 12-170 with Chase and Casey
Eileen Gehrke (19-11) and son, David Beyer, enjoy fishing at Lake Carroll .
My 7-year-old grandson, Jaxon Fraedrich, catching another largemouth bass! Bob Knackstedt (17-53)
Big smallmouth caught by Matt miller (13-173) 7/2/2020
Dan Aho
July 2020
Lake Carroll News Page 7
"To preserve and maintain the prairies and woodlands of Lake Carroll to improve the quality of the community's ecosystem"
Lake Carroll Prairie Club By Becky Janopoulos
Well, the dog days of summer are here, and the Prairie Club is still getting out there to work on the prairies. Wild parsnip is the talk of the moment, as it is rearing its ugly head around the lake. The remnant prairie along the ATV trail in section 25 has been getting a lot of the attention with brush control, as well as parsnip removal. Rhonda Wade helped the Prairie Club out by posting a video on the Lake Carroll Owners Group Facebook page on how to remove parsnip
from your property! As a side note on parsnip, herbicide is NOT the best way to control it. Parsnip will continue to flower and even produce seed if it’s not sprayed well enough and the collateral damage to surrounding vegetation can open up opportunity for existing seeds in the soil to germinate, making the problem worse! If you have questions on what to do about parsnip on your property, the Prairie Club can help. Please use the emails listed at the bottom. The Prairie Club made the decision to mow the Edgewater Prairie. As this is the first year that the prairie seed is growing the native plants are very small. Ragweed had started to grow and overwhelm the seedlings. There were some mature flowers in the Edgewater prairie so effort is being made to mow around those. Next summer the prairie plants will be more substantial and able to start outcompeting the weeds. Thanks to Jim
Richards for your efforts on this!! We’ve included a few of our prairie flowers that are currently in bloom. Be sure to drive by the prairies to really enjoy their natural beauty. If you have any questions please email Jim and Pam Richards at [email protected] or me at [email protected].
The 2019 season provided precipitation events in excess of 20 total
inches of rainfall above our average. This year has also provided
excessive rain. These rain events bring nutrients in to feed aquatic
plants and algae. Along with the ‘extra rain’ events we’ve had, the
winter was very mild, allowing some plants to get an early start on
2020 growth.
The association has worked diligently to balance the need for
aquatic plants for lake health while also working towards a balance
for recreational usage. This year has proven to be more difficult.
(Recall 2016?). However, we have performed two optional
treatment programs thus far to provide relief to property owners in
areas that impact their lakefront. Along with the treatments, the
Association has had both harvesters and transport barge working to
harvest and remove plant biomass from the
lake since May. To date, Don Aleksy has
reported the removal of 45 truck loads of
aquatic plants (per Don, this translates into
810,000 pounds of aquatic plant biomass).
The harvesting operation has about a 6 day
turnaround to cut each area of the lake in
need. However, they have been responsive to calls from property
owners requesting specific cuttings for events or if the area is more
out of control than others. The harvesters and barge will continue to
work on plant removal efforts to reduce plant biomass and remove
nutrients from the lake, and we will also provide a final optional
treatment program in August.
Like many other lakes in Northern Illinois,
the aquatic plant, and algae, growth has been
well above average. The Association
management team will continue to work on
reducing the biomass in the most effective,
ecologically sound ways possible.
Lake Weeds By Joe Rush, Lake Manager
Bass Tournament Results Sponsored by the Lake Carroll Fishing Club
Thanks again to Miller Sports for sponsoring the big bass prizes. Just a reminder, due to the shorten season, you only have to fish in two tournaments to qualify for the 2-day Classic in October. So, mark your calendars and come out fish. Follow these links to the 2020 Fishing Tournament Schedule & Tournament Rules.
July 2020
Lake Carroll News Page 8
This year sure has been a little trying to say the least, but in June, with some of the restrictions being reduced by the State, we ended up with possibly
the busiest June we have seen at Lake Carroll for many years. Although we were not allowed to have outings or tournaments, over 4000 rounds of golf were played. That’s an amazing turn of events. In July we will be able to hold tournaments and outings, with restrictions for social distancing, but we are at least able to hold these great events. Our Junior golf camps were mostly held in June, with around 150 participants for the entire season’s worth of camps. It sure is great to see all the potential future golfers putting and chipping around on the putting green. Mike and Curt did a great job making this the best year ever. I believe that July has the potential to be one of the busiest ever now that tournaments and outings are available to be held at the course. So, it is very important to make your tee times as soon as possible. Members can make tee times up to two weeks in advance, while non-members are allowed only a week. July will host the Spahn and Rose golf outing on July 15th, the Eastland Boosters on July 25th, and the Senior Club Championship on July 26th. A full list of events and flyers for upcoming events is included in this publication. See you on the course!
From the Golf Pro By Jason Hill, Golf Professional
We are thrilled to have our doors
open and our customers back. Our
menu has changed just a bit; we’ve
added a couple salads and grilled
chicken. Our Chef Melody selects a different lunch and
dinner special daily. The specials are posted online and at
the Clubhouse in the display box by the front doors for your
viewing. With our limited seating we do ask that you make
reservations for the dining room and sunrise room. We have
been especially busy on the weekends, so please make your
reservations early at 815.493.2810.
Events are being scheduled with 50 people or less per
room, so please give us a call for your next special get-
together or meeting!
Welcome… to the Clubhouse By Sarah Heckman, Events Coordinator
Lake Carroll Clubhouse 815.493.2810 Golfers Grab -n -Go Lunch
Daily 11:00 am–2:30 pm
Hours of Operation
Golf Course Beverage Cart 10:00am - 3:00pm (Weather permitting)
Visit the Clubhouse webpage for updates, menu, and specials.
SUNDAY-WEDNESDAY Bar & Dining Room 11:00am - 8:00pm
THURSDAY-SATURDAY
Bar 11:00am - 10:00pm
Dining Room 11:00am - 8:00pm
Pizzas served till 9:00pm
July 20-24 AM Camp Monday-Friday
COST: $50 Pee Wee; $50 Youth
TIMES AM: Youth 8:30-10:00
Pee Wee 10:30-11:30
If you haven't already joined one or both Lake Carroll Facebook Groups, there's no time like the present...follow these links! You can join one or both, it's up to you!
MEMBERS ONLY | CAMPGROUND Whether you request yourself or a friend invites you to join, please answer the questions to confirm your membership. We appreciate so many asking to be a part of our pages; however, we can only approve those members listed in our membership database. This is our way of keeping our group truly "Members Only." We cannot accept requests from adult children and non-member family members and friends. We hope you find our pages useful. Please don’t hesitate to provide feedback to Sara Ashby, LCA Marketing Manager. We want these pages to provide our members with what they are looking for…and then some.
Join LC Facebook Groups!
Click image to enlarge
July 2020
Lake Carroll News Page 9
Located at the lower parking lot across from the Lodge.
Bruce A. McDonald, age 74, currently residing in Lake Carroll, IL, passed away on Monday June 29, 2020 at Freeport Hospital. Born April 28, 1946 in Chicago, IL to his parents Ronald and Iva McDonald. Married Debbie (Carmody) on June 27, 1969, served in the United States Army 1966 – 1968. Bruce was an active member in the community prior to his retirement serving as a District 83 school board member from 1987 – 2005, Westdale park district board member, Westdale boy’s baseball president, and more
recently at Lake Carroll on the Lake Committee, Fishing Club Board, and Architectural & Environment Committee. He worked for Jewel Osco for 37 years in a variety of roles. Bruce was raised in Chicago, raised his family in Melrose Park, IL and retired to Lake Carroll, IL and enjoyed his retirement years traveling with his wife, fishing, and golfing. He was a wealth of knowledge on all things, approached life with humor and an amazing work ethic, and was generous beyond words. Survived by his wife, Debbie, children Jeff (Jeannine) McDonald, Jennifer (Steven) Ford, and Brian (Susan) McDonald and grandchildren Calvin (Sandra), Declan, Charlotte, PJ, Gillian, Liam, Colin, Vinny, and Brady, sisters Margery Lanigan and Karen McDonald and sister-in-law Ella McDonald and many nieces and nephews. Preceded in death by his parents, Ronald and Iva McDonald, sister, Lorraine Moore, and brother, Terry McDonald. Services to be held at St. Wendelin Catholic Church in Shannon on July 25, 2020 at 11:00 am. Due to COVID19 services limited to immediate family. Family requests in lieu of flowers donations be made in his name to the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society at www.donate.lls.org. Source: Hermann Funeral Home/McDonald
I want to thank you all for all the fun over the past 4 weeks.
You have made my tour around Lake Carroll even more
enjoyable. Here’s your last clue…
All this swimming around has made me hungry! I couldn't
leave Lake Carroll without grabbing a bite to eat first. I just
hope they are not wanting to have a fish fry! I will be here until
Thursday, July 16th. Find me one last time, take a picture with
me and send it to Donna Aleksy at
[email protected] or text it to her at 815.499.5425.
Please include your name and section/lot.
On Thursday I’ll be swimming off, but I will return to Lake
Carroll again soon. Keep watching the Lake Carroll-Members
Only Facebook page and eblast for a few pictures from my visit.
Until we meet again, stay safe, stay healthy, and continue
practicing social distancing.
Last chance to
Find “Fish”
Bruce McDonald
1946—2020
DAVE HILT 1943-2020
Dave was born February 23, 1943 in Crestwood, IL. After graduating from Eisenhower High School in Blue Island. Dave then enlisted in the U S Air Force. He was preceded in death by his parents, Joe and Marian Hilt, sister Wendy, brothers Jeff, and Keith. He is survived by sons Davey of Lake Carroll, Darin of Delaware, Ohio, brother Dan of Chenoa IL (Susan) and several grandchildren and great grandchildren. While living at Lake Carroll Dave was active in the fishing, golf, and yacht clubs and was always ready to help others. He served in the U S Air Force at Cape Canaveral, FI and while serving accomplished tours in Panama, two tours in Thailand maritime boundaries, including Vietnam. He went on to Master Sargent serving on Air Force 1, under Lyndon Johnson, Richard Nixon and Vice President Spiro Agnew. After serving on Air Force One he was transferred to the Pentagon in security and afterwards to Andrews Air Force Base and Bolling Air Force Base in D C. He retired in 1988 having earned AF commendation medal with two oak leaf clusters, small arms marksmanship medal, AF longevity Service Ribbon with three Oak Leaf clusters, National Defense Service medal, Vietnam Service Medal with two bronze stars, AF organizational Excellence Award with one oak leaf cluster, AF outstanding Unit Award with three Oak leaf clusters, and AF Good Conduct medal with five oak leaf clusters. A military service will be held at the Abraham Lincoln National Cemetery in Elwood, IL on July 24th.
Obituaries