Lake: Hot temps slow news
By TOOTSIE SNELLING
Marion County Park & Lake Reporter
I didn't have much to write about last week except that it was hot and everyone already knew that, so I decided to skip a week.
There still is no rain to speak of, but it is cooler today (Monday). The storms that came through last night sure made lots of noise and blew, but there was little or no rain. They still are calling for more today, so we can only hope and pray.
I don't think two inches of rain will help the bean fields in Chase County. They look pretty brown and dry. Some of the cornfields out there are so dry the corn stalks are breaking over with the wind and some never made any ears of corn. All the pastures are brown dry and the grasshoppers are really thick. When you drive down the road or take one step and they fly everywhere, you'd better have your mouth shut!
With school starting most places this week, we had some last minute campers trying to get in a last camp-out with family. We had a family here from Colorado that used to come here years ago. We enjoyed visiting with them and a church group out of Wichita that came late Sunday evening (they enjoyed the storm!). They were going to stay and swim most of the day, but because of the weather, left early Monday morning.
Lots of boaters and jet skis were out on Saturday and Sunday until the wind came up, then most of them got off.
The hall has been busy as usual. Chat and Dine met on the first Saturday. I gave a program on the Monarch Watch, and showed them how we tag butterflies.
The Engels and Bechelmyers held their family reunions Aug. 4 and this last Sunday, the Hamms and Costellos used both ends. Both had big crowds.
On Saturday, there was a 90th birthday party for Emma Smith. That's quite an accomplishment.
Fishing has slowed down a little due to the hot weather. There was a good hatch of may flies and little shad, so the fish aren't quite as hungry now. Also, there aren't as many fishermen out these hot days. But, the channel cat continue to bite on cheese bait and liver. No big ones lately for pictures. Bass bite early mornings and later on in the evening on top water and pig and jig around the brush piles. A few wipers and saugeye were reported taken. The heated dock has been slow also, but who wants to fish in a hot building? One man actually called to see if it was air-conditioned. I said, "I'm afraid not." Wow, what an electric bill that would be.
The fireworks show has been scheduled for Sept. 1 at 9 p.m., depending on the weather. Florence Labor Day has a full line-up of interesting things throughout the weekend. Be sure to attend some or all of them.
More later on the fireworks show.
