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Local kids get Hooked on Fishing not Drugs By DAWN SLADE Thirty Milaca area kids got hooked on fishing instead of drugs this year. And they caught plenty of fish! The fourth grade students participated in the 15th annual ³Hooked on Fishing Not Drugs² event sponsored by the Milaca Police Department and Woodcraft Industries. All fourth graders at Milaca Elementary attended a drug lecture in April which was presented by teens who have been in treatment because of drugs and alcohol. Students then had the opportunity to write an essay about why itıs better to get hooked on fishing than drugs. Winners of the essay contest get to spend a week at Deep Portage Camp in Hackensack, Minn. learning about fishing, camping and the great outdoors. This yearıs essay winners, who will be attending the camp in July, are Heather Ackerman, Katie Archibald, Dakota Dietz, Rebekah Forker, Lisasia Kilgo and Ryan Orton. In May the students attended a fishing clinic. Mike Hagberg of Woodcraft Industries talked with students about fishing, what types of ³structure² to look for when fishing, what lures to use, etc. On Monday, June 9, 30 students took advantage of the fishing trip offered through the program. The students went to Smith Lake, near Garrison, where they spent the morning putting their fishing skills to the test. For several of the nine and 10-year-olds it was their first fishing experience. Seventeen boats and 35 adult volunteers made it possible for the kids to bring back bluegills and bass. Trophies for the largest fish went to Dylan Harlicker who snagged a one-pound six ounce bass, Tony Rice who reeled in an 11-ounce blue gill and Stephanie Miller who caught an eight-ounce blue gill. No northerns were caught, so the next largest sunfish was used for the third place trophy. After returning to shore, the adults cooked up the fish while the kids listened to DNR employee Julie Olson talk about boating safety. All the kids who participated in the fishing event at Smith Lake received t-shirts. And Mike Kurre of Gander Mountain-Burnsville handed out all kinds of door prizes (each attendee received a prize). Mikeıs father, Al Kurre, was an avid outdoorsman and Mike continues to pass on his late fatherıs passion and enthusiasm for fishing to the kids. This year Mike gave one lucky kid Alıs personal tackle box. This yearıs event had an extra special treat for the kids when they returned to Milaca. The Outdoor Heritage Education Center brought its ³Touch of the Wild² trailer to town. The trailer was filled with taxidermy, including a bear, an antelope, a turkey, ducks, geese, pheasants, fish and even a lion. Mark LaBarbera of the Outdoor Heritage Education Center said the trailer is brought to schools all over the state, in particular those in the urban areas where students arenıt exposed to the outdoors as much. ³They get a real perspective on the real size of the animals,² LaBarbera said. Volunteers and donations The Hooked on Fishing Not Drugs program wouldnıt be in existence if it werenıt for the numerous volunteers and businesses who donate time and money. This yearıs boat volunteers included Mark Berezni, Pete Berezni, Mike Berger, Bob Thompson, Tom Conway, John Day, Jere Day, Roger Dingmann, Dean Ellefson, Jay and Ethel Hakes, Todd Hendrickson, Dave Johnson, Brian Johnson, Bruce Keller, Leif Ludwig, Mike Kurre, John Lachinski, Larry Larson, John Sleva, Paul Becker, Bruce Smith, Tim Ziegler and Nick Ziegler. Additional help came from Tom Boser, Lloyd Rhoda, Harry Rhoda, Mike Katke, Tammy and Len Ladehoff, Karen Aguilera and Mike Hagberg, the City of Milaca, Woodcraft Industries, Nexus (treatment facility) and Milaca Elementary and its fourth grade teachers. The Hooked on Fishing Not Drugs program offers students something more than fish. Itıs a chance for impressionable pre-teens to learn why drugs are dangerous and how many other opportunities are available to them when they avoid drugs and alcohol.
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