On Monday the U.S. Coast Guard Station Portage held training near the Portage Lake Lift Bridge. It was perfect timing, because there was just a thin layer of ice in this area, so it made the perfect practice grounds for ice rescue training. A few days earlier there had been quite a number of skaters on the ice up and down the frozen waterway and several had fallen through the ice, but were rescued without incident. The local Fire Departments and Police agencies have asked that folks stay off the ice, as it is not safe at this point.

With this ice rescue training, the Coast Guard has an important reminder also, that no ice is safe ice and always transit any ice with caution.

We have another message today, this one in the form of a video and it comes from the Calumet Players Group. Their Winter 2020 Performance of “A Visit From St. Nicholas”, by Clement Clarke Moore.