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No One Hurt as Snowmobile Submerges

January 16, 2008 - CARATUNK -- Game wardens on Friday were still trying to retrieve a snowmobile that broke through thin ice the day before, dunking a warden in waist-deep water in Pleasant Pond. Warden Scott Thrasher, on a Skidoo Summit, broke through the ice about 10 feet from shore at 12:1.5 pm., but managed to get out, according to Sgt. Ralph Hosford with the Greenville Warden Service office.

"Scott got out directly. He was cold, but safe, he was fortunate." Hosford said.

Hosford said Thrasher and Warden Rick Cluw were patrolling the pond in anticipation of ice fishing season and responding to landowner concerns about ice fishing on the pond.

"Yesterday it was glare-ice conditions, it was white and looked solid. But around the edge, it started getting darker," Hosford said. Thrasher "didnt have picks and had a hard time steering and controlling. He didn't have time to stop nor make a big loop to avoid it. Picks are sharp pegs screwed into a snow machine track to help bite on glare ice. he said.

Hosford said recovery on Friday did not go as planned because the airboat broke down. Because of the incoming storm, the Warden Service won't begin retrieval efforts again until Sunday.

"We are encouraging people to pay attention." Hosford said. "Sometimes things happen, lt looked good (Thursday) and we went a little further than we should have and it bit us. People should take appropriate precautions."

Hosford urged people to carry "Picks of Life" or a life ring or buoy with them in case of problems.

Michael Bateman of New Jersey, who said his family has owned property on Pleasant Pond for years, said this is the first year the pond has been opened for ice fishing and he and others are opposed.

"There is significant opposition to tbe proposal." Bateman said. "The ice never gets thick, because it's a spring-fed lake. We don't want the public out there fishing a lake that's not safe. (Today) we've got a sled that's bobbing in the water."

Bateman said he also is concerned about the environmental impact. "This is the second clearest lake in Maine. To introduce anytbing negative for an environmental impact is crazy." he said.

SOURCE: KENNEBEC JOURNAL

DATE: 12-29-2007


Lakes: Pleasant Pond
Regions: Embden


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