Ken Schmidt fills gap at county lake
By ROWENA PLETT
Staff writer
Dale and Tootsie Snelling left their posts May 1 as superintendent and office manager at Marion County Park and Lake.
After their departure, someone was needed to fill in until a new superintendent could be hired. That person was Ken Schmidt, a longtime assistant.
Schmidt does not have law enforcement authority but keeps watch over activity at the lake and tells people when they are doing wrong.
"They usually listen," he said. If a problem persists, he contacts the sheriff's department.
He also collects rents, issues camping permits, and makes reservations for the lake hall.
"There's quite a bit that goes on here that people don't see," he said.
Schmidt has lived at Marion County Park and Lake the past 15 years and has worked as Dale's assistant the last 11 years, manning the office during the two days a week when the Snellings were off.
Before that, he pinch-hitted for former superintendent John Waner as well as Snelling.
"I enjoy it out here," he said. "I love to fish."
Schmidt's love affair with Marion County Lake began early. At the age of 10, he accompanied his parents to the grand opening of the lake in May 1940. The crowd was estimated at 10,000, and hundreds of fishermen lined the perimeter of the lake.
"There were no trees," he said. "It was pretty bare, and there were a lot of weeds in the middle of the lake. Fishermen were catching big fish one after the other. It was a wonder to behold."
He began fishing at Marion County Park and Lake in 1947. The 78-year-old man still can be found year-round at 6 or 6:30 almost every morning at the heated dock.
Schmidt has lived in Marion County all of his life. He grew up on a farm seven miles south of Hillsboro. He held jobs at the former Tip Top Creamery in Hillsboro and in Marion County Road and Bridge Department.
Before retiring, he was a trucker for Donahue Corporation for 20 years.
Schmidt's companion, Nancy Fee, sometimes helps him in the office.
Cindy Ragland of Flint Hills Firearms in Marion is supplying bait and fishing supplies until the new lake superintendent, Steve Hudson, can set up shop.
Hudson will assume his duties next week and Schmidt will be there "to help him get things going."
Schmidt's son, Ken Jr., lives in Greenville, N.C., and is married with two children. Daughter Yvonne Hill lives in Marion.
