Kelly Lake, Oconto County Wisconsin

We’re back!

My apologies for the site being down the last week; I didn’t pay my bill! Actually, we changed our credit card and email address (when switched over to cable) and I inadvertently failed to notify host of change. They couldn’t get a hold of me, and put the “Oops” notice on the site for me to contact them. All necessary changes were made, and we’re back in business!

You’ll be seeing a new face to this site, along with, finally, a second web cam on the east shore of Kelly Lake at Dave Fickenscher’s–pointing west. Thank you, Bob and Shannon Neubaur, Pat Patterson and Romy from the Holiday Inn for your contributions to the web cam; sorry it took so long.

Steve, my guru/friend and KL Webmeister, is planning a roadtrip on his Harley to help with installation and programming (Steve rides up from Wrightstown). Those frequent/occassional followers and newcomers can look forward to a NEW DAY at kellylake.net.

The format will remain the same as people will still have access to post photos, events or whatever they wish (within discretion!) on the site (scroll down for tutorial which might help). Shirley will still be official site photographer, and we hope Dick Ryan continues to assist with pics to make the site more interesting with his contributions. The site is a local community function; a much smaller version of FaceBoook or MySpace. May I note that Juli Levar has developed the “I Love Kelly Lake” page found on FaceBook. Log onto her name there and click the link. It’s one more venue for the lake community to keep in contact and informed of one-anothers’ happenings. Steve will remain my go-to guy.

With the new face and ‘new day’, here’s a photo from Shirley of the start of a new day on Kelly Lake and .net!

Again, my apologies for the oversight. Roger

Share on Facebook

Press release: DA YOOPERS tickets SOLD OUT!

The Oconto Falls Friends of the Arts have announced that tickets to the Fine Arts Series of DA YOOPERS are SOLD OUT! The performance will take place on Friday, October 9 at Romy’s Holiday Inn-Kelly Lake. Dinner will begin at 6:30 p.m., with the performance to follow. For information on additional upcoming Fine Arts Series performances and ticket information, please call the Oconto Falls Friends of the Arts at (920) 848-7469/(920) 848-SHOW. Website: www.fota.ocontofalls.k12.wi.us

Amy Thiel
Choral Director
Oconto Falls High School
210 N. Farm Road
Oconto Falls, WI 54154
(920) 848-4467 ext. 1017

Share on Facebook

Kelly Lake’s Al Breitlow extends Lambeau Tour invitation!

Our nearby neighbors and friends are Al and Karen Breitlow. I’ll bet many of you didn’t know that Al’s a ref for Packer practices and training camps. He also gives tours of Lambeau Field and the facilities including The “Packer Hall of Fame”!

Well, recently Al invited us for a tour and sit in at a full uniform and full impact practice;

Al took care of all arrangements; he even went into the Packer locker room and got an autograph for Shirley and I from Aaron Rogers!

If you haven’t been there, our first-hand account might be of interest…

We met Al at the “statues” in front of Lambeau Field Atrium. He then chauffered us around pointing out places of Lambeau interest. Dropping us off, Al showed us where to meet our tour group and guide (Al had other duties at the time, but would meet us later and take us to the bleachers for the scrimmage.).

 We watched the hard-hitting play and saw the players in action–LIVE!  Al hustled up and down the field keeping a close eye on the game?!  AL, THE GAME!  We saw Al in action, or was it inaction?! 

Al would stop over to see how we were doing.  “Great, Al!  Just great!”  He paused and panted, while trying to pretend it wasn’t exhausting.  “Al, wake up!  THE GAME!”

 

Al got his second-wind and was renewed and energized from his power nap, proceeding to ref the game.

Following the game we met Al at the tour site in the atrium.  He had a meeting and left us get a guided tour of the facilities.  We even got to walk out onto the field through the “tunnel” where the Packers make their entrance.  Loud speakers gave one an idea of the roaring cheers that greet the Packers at game time.

We also went through the Packer Hall of Fame!  May I note that Kelly Lake’s Deryl Teteak played for the Packers from 1955-59 as fullback, number 66!  We saw his team pic with Deryl in it, but the pic of it didn’t turn out.

We concluded our tour with a meal at Curly’s Pub on the second floor and headed back to Kelly Lake with great appreciation and a big “thank you” to our Kelly Lake neighbor and friend, Al Breitlow!  Again Al, thanks for making all the arrangements.  It made it all that much more enjoyable, not trying to find our way around.  It was our first time to the new field. 

GO PACK, and thanks Aaron Rogers!

 Rog and Shirley  Birr (Photos by Shirley)

Share on Facebook

Naiad Water Ski Club recognizes 30th Anniversary! More pics!

First of all, my apologies for no web cam pic since Tuesday. Shirley and I went on a vacation Tuesday though Saturday to tour three other Great Lakes, including driving up along Lakes Michigan, Huron and Superior; staying on Mackinac Island overlooking Lake Huron, and heading west to Munising on Lake Superior–taking tour cruises of Pictured Rocks and a glass bottom boat over 3 sunken wooden sailing vessels from the 1800s and early 1900s (the water is clear down to 50-60 feet! AWESOME!). GREAT weather and a very enjoyable trip. Anyway, not thinking, we turned off our pc which controls the web cam.

At hand is the 30th anniversary of the Kelly Lake Naiad Water Ski Club which presented its first show Labor Day of 1979. It all started during one of my terms as President of the Kelly Lake Advancement Association. Kelly Lake’s Darbys approached me to see if the Association could sponsor a ski show. I got to thinking and thought it best that they start a club as a youth group; govern it themselves, hold elections; learn what’s involved in organizing; recognize the responsibility and promote safety on the water. It was well received. Their enthusiasm made it easy.; they went at it gung-ho!

The members met and voted in officers, practiced twice each week all summer of ‘79, made props, gathered equipment, and put on their first show, “Ski Follies”, on the Labor Day weekend. Though it was a lot of work getting the club off the ground (or up on the water), their vigor and vitality got them through it.   The Club went on for several years when it became dormant for some time (I think because we failed to recruit younger skiers; the charter members moved on to college and careers).

Later, the Laurents started it up again. After a few years the club went into another period of stagnation until Rob and Craig Stangel and Jeff and Dave Haupt reorganized it and named it the Kelly Lake Ski Team. That, too, became dormant after several years and remains so today.

All-in-all, we had a lot of fun despite all the work we put into it. Parents were glad to see the kids and young adults having something wholesome to do, meeting new friends, and showing their skiing wares and talent. It didn’t come without adversity, trials and tribulations! But, we overcame it all and had fun!

Here are some pics from that era past, and hopes that our kids and grandkids will some day learn and experience what we did 30 years ago and years after! HAPPY BELATED 30th, Naiads (it took me awhile to retrieve photos and enhance!)  Roger

Remember when…

1979 Charter Members (I’m looking for a better pic; this is from a slide)

(Click on images to enlarge and click again for larger pic)

Around the boat!

Practice/shows

 Exciting, entertaining, friendly and FUN!  We had a ball!

Share on Facebook