Department of Natural Resources conservation officers rescued three people early Sunday evening after they fell through thin ice on the east end of Detroit’s Belle Isle.

At approximately 4:30 p.m., conservation officers were called to the scene after learning three individuals had fallen through the ice near the marble lighthouse on the east end of the island. Sgts. Ron Kimmerly and Todd Szyska, along with Conservation Officers Michael Feagan and Mike Drexler, responded to the area and split up to conduct foot and vehicle patrols in an attempt to locate the victims.

After getting out of the water, one of the women communicated via cell phone with dispatchers for approximately an hour and attempted to give their location. After searching the entire east end of the island, CO Drexler located the victims on the canal between the golf course and water plant. Sgt. Szyska coordinated with the Detroit Fire Department Ladder 6 and United States Coast Guard personnel as well as EMS MEDIC 12. The conservation officers scaled the fence and rushed to assist the other two victims, who had gotten out of the water and were sitting on the snowbank. The second woman had lost her shoes and coat in the ordeal and was starting to experience hypothermia when the officers arrived.

The officers administered first aid and wrapped the subjects in emergency blankets, jackets, hats and gloves. Sgt. Szyska responded with the Detroit Fire Department, U.S. Coast Guard, EMS and a Michigan State Police trooper and carried back boards out to the victims after the lock to the gate had been cut. The responders placed the victims on the back boards and carried them through the 2-foot-deep snow to the EMS vehicle. The victims were showing signs of hypothermia and going in and out of consciousness while being carried out. After the subjects had been placed in the ambulance, they refused to be transported to the hospital. Read more

The Washington Examiner has a story on the Obama vacations.

Golf vacation

2013, Feb. 16-18, President Obama flew to Palm Springs, Ca., for three days of golf.
2013, June 26–July 2, Michelle toured African nations with Sasha and Malia after meeting up with president.
2014, March 8-9, the president and first lady traveled to Key Largo, Fla., for a golfing vacation.
2015, Feb. 15-17, President Obama traveled again to Palm Springs for a boys weekend of golf.

How about the first lady taking exotic trips with just her and her children?

2010, August 4-8, Michelle Obama, daughter Sasha and an entourage travel to Spain. Judicial Watch pegged the cost at $467,000
2011, Feb. 19-21, Michelle, Sasha and Malia travel to Vail to ski and hit a restaurant that served pickled pumpkin salad and braised ancho-chile short rib.
2011, March 21-25, Obama, Michelle, Sasha and Malia, on spring break, on a working vacation to Latin America were the girls took in Rio’s Christ the Redeemer statue.
2012, Feb. 17-19, Michelle and her daughters traveled to Aspen to ski.
2013, Feb. 15-18, Michelle Obama and her two daughters ski in Aspen, Co.
2014, Feb. 14-17, Michelle Obama with daughters Sasha and Malia for a ski vacation in Aspen, Co.
2014, March 19-26, Michelle Obama, her mom and daughter Sasha and Malia spend a spring break in China.

Journey Beyond the Road Features Conservation Victories, Mapping Land and Sea from the Chesapeake Bay to Chimney Rock

Arlington, VA – Virtual tours of some of America’s most important places—its parks, waterways and even battlefields—went online this week in Street View in Google Maps. The Conservation Fund and its partners unveiled a host of sites across the Eastern seaboard that they hiked, paddled, and explored with the Street View Trekker, a mapping tool from Google that allows anyone with a screen and internet access to journey beyond the road for a tour of iconic American sites where The Conservation Fund played a role in permanent protection.

Last year, Conservation Fund staff and its local partners borrowed and set out with Trekker, a 4-foot-tall, 40-pound camera and backpack, that’s part of Google’s project to create a digital reflection of the world for people to explore and enjoy. Now, these spectacular places that The Conservation Fund and its partners protected are online for the world to see. The result is a virtual tour of eight sites, stretching from Delaware to North Carolina. Now, the fields of Antietam National Battlefield, the waterways of the Chesapeake Bay, and the misty caves of North Carolina’s Chimney Rock State Park are available to visitors and outdoor enthusiasts across the globe seeking a glimpse of places they might not typically see on the web-based mapping service. Read more

Applications from Children of Enlisted Coast Guard Members Are Accepted Until March 15th

Stonington, Conn. — The Coast Guard Foundation, a non-profit organization committed to the education and welfare of Coast Guard members and their families, announced today that it has kicked off its scholarship season. Accepting applications until March 15th, children of enlisted Coast Guard members may apply for scholarships ranging from $1,000 to $5,000 per year. Over the last 20 years, the Coast Guard Foundation has given more than $3 million through its scholarship program to family members of brave Coast Guard men and women to help them achieve their dreams of higher education. The non-profit’s commitment to education support has significantly grown over time and is now a primary focus of the organization. Read more

Tucson, AZ – Joseph Hosmer, President, Safari Club International Foundation (SCI Foundation) recently announced that Larry and Brenda Potterfield, founders of Midway USA, were awarded the first ever Beretta and SCI Foundation Conservation Leadership Award. The award is given to individuals for demonstrating extensive international hunting experience and a lifetime of commitment to wildlife conservation and education though volunteer service and philanthropy. Over the years, the Potterfields have contributed generously to Conservation, Education and Humanitarian Services efforts in both time and financial resources. Read more

Craig Kasmer begins with a warning: You will face challenges.

“This isn’t the easiest thing to do,” said Kasmer. “I’ll be up front about this. Some of you will have issues. Some of you will think you don’t have issues, but you do.”

So what are we talking about here? Navy SEALs training? Rebuilding a ’57 Chevy? Undergoing psychotherapy?

Nope. Kasmer, the interpreter at Hartwick Pines State Park in Grayling, Michigan, is talking about making snowshoes.

For the last eight winters, Kasmer has hosted three weekend classes (in December, January and February) on building snowshoes. The students begin with the basic materials – a wooden frame, some lengths of tubular nylon, and a set of bindings – and by the end of the weekend, they’ll have a self-made pair of snowshoes ready to be varnished and used to negotiate the winter outdoors. The workshop currently costs $175 per student, includes all necessary materials, and comes with Kasmer’s personal warranty on the product.

The class and similar others at a number of Michigan state parks are among the most popular hands-on winter activities offered by the Department of Natural Resources. This year’s classes are full, but there will be plenty of opportunities next winter. (Follow the DNR calendar to learn about classes like these and other upcoming events at Michigan state parks, historic sites and museums.) Read more