Boat tragedy touches community
Tragedy and comedy led the news in Bayview last week.
A portable heater ignited gas fumes on a boat heading out for a day’s fishing Thanksgiving morning. Three men were aboard the vessel: Daniel J. Daffern, Clinton Creamer and Scott A. Wright. Two were rescued in the 38-degree water, but Wright did not survive. This tragic event could have been much worse had it not been for vigilant neighbors. Four men banded together to rescue Creamer and Daffern. First on the scene was Ditmar Krueger, resident of an “A” dock float home at Scenic Bay Marina. Spotting the boat on fire, he rushed to his own boat and was first on the scene, pulling Creamer from the water. Shortly thereafter, Chuck Waller, followed by Dick and Chris Hansen joined in.
Heavy, wet clothing made the man hard to pull out. Waller was struggling to get Daffern out of the water. Chris Hansen jumped into Waller’s boat, and between them, they managed to get him on board. The boats then were close by the Navy barge. They circled the barge, looking in vain for the third man, Wright. Seeing that Daffern was showing signs of serious hypothermia and had several burns on his head, they called off the search and headed for the dock. Krueger was able to dock his smaller boat at the public ramp where the EMTs were, but neither Waller nor Hansen could get in without grounding.
Dick Hansen, a former a Fish and Game commissioner, didn’t mince words when criticizing the 11-foot drawdown this year, saying that not only was the severe drawdown fatal to early kokanee spawners, but was also a public safety issue.
Congratulations are in order for the four men and Cindy Hansen for immediately spotting the fire and hearing the men in the water yelling for help.
Krueger also pulled Steve Plancich from the water last year in the Scenic Bay Marina, after he fell from the dock and couldn’t get back out.
Goat butts head with self
On the lighter side, a Mountain Goat buck wandered several miles to a home on Howard Road in Athol. Ambling up to a glass slider at one house, he saw his own reflection. It being breeding season, he immediately challenged this new foe to a battle. A combined effort of the Kootenai County Sheriff Department and Timberlake Fire District finally convinced the goat that it was just a window. He turned finally from the window, once again defeated in his quest for romance and wandered back into the woods.
Events abound
Many early-December events are scheduled for both Bayview and Athol. Just past were meetings to discuss the ongoing saga of the Farragut State Park attempt to build a world-class firing range at the location of the Navy World War II training pits. Also just past was a meeting with golf course developers planning a 1,500-acre project on Good Hope Road.
Christmas season events on Saturday include cookies and cocoa and a visit from Santa at the Athol Community Center, starting at noon. PM and BAB Women’s Club is sponsoring a Christmas Bazaar at the Bayview community Center, from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Bayview’s Chamber of Commerce will hold its annual election of officers and board members Tuesday at 7 p.m. Participation by all members and prospective members is encouraged.
Dec. 13 will feature the annual “Light the Christmas Tree,” plus a visit from Santa Claus is expected. This will be from 4 to 7 p.m.
An Idaho Department of Lands formal hearing will take place challenging the right of Boileau’s Marina to privatize half of the marina. This action was brought by petition of the Bayview Chamber Development Analysis Committee.