DNR officers will be out in force on area lakes and riversby Jim Pinkerton (jmpinkerton@wsbt.com)
Conservation officers from Indiana's Department of Natural Resources will be patrolling area lakes and rivers this weekend in an effort to keep boaters safe. (WSBT photo) ST. JOSEPH COUNTY — With the temperatures heating back up, a lot of people will spend time this holiday weekend on the lakes and rivers. MultimediaThat's why conservation officers from Indiana's Department of Natural Resources will be out, too. Their goal is simple: to keep people safe. Lisa Moore and her family couldn't wait to get out on the St. Joseph River Friday afternoon. When it comes to safety, there's no question what to do. "They pretty much know the rules of the boat. When they get in the boat they know to put a life jacket on. And we watch when there's a tube out," Moore said. She admits, things can get crazy on the water, especially on a holiday weekend. "It is sometime scary when people, especially the jet skis, don't watch out," she said. That's why DNR conservation officers like Sgt. Mark Hines will be out in force this weekend. They'll be watching for people who are taking unnecessary chances. "We're dealing with a river that's been dammed up, not a lake. We have a lot of debris that still floats in the river that they need to be aware of," he said. A bigger problem on some waterways is drunk or impaired boaters. In Indiana, there's not much officers can do. "The problem we run into is that we do not have an open container law for water craft; so as long as the operator is sober, everyone else on the boat can be drinking. Having a designated driver is critical," Hines said. Because judgment can be impaired when people are having fun, officers are also urging people to wear life jackets — something most people fail to do. Hines says that's a big mistake, especially when kids are on board. "You want to keep your eye on them every minute because they could slip out of your grasp at any time and lead to a tragedy. The same for us. If we're not swimmers and we're in a boat, we're taking the biggest chance by not wearing a life preserver," Hines said. That's why Moore and her family aren't taking any chances, especially as the water traffic picks up. "It's pretty crowded on a holiday. Luckily, it's still calm, but they'll come out." Most PopularMore Good Stuff |
WSBT WeatherWSBT Weather
Stock QuotesYouNews
This content requires the latest Adobe Flash Player and a browser with JavaScript enabled.
Click here for a free download of the latest Adobe Flash Player.
|
This content requires the latest Adobe Flash Player and a browser with JavaScript enabled.
Click here for a free download of the latest Adobe Flash Player.
Tonight On WSBTFull Schedule
7.00
Paid Programming
7.30
Jeopardy
8.00
The Mentalist
9.00
48 Hours Mystery
10.00
48 Hours Mystery
11.00
WSBT News
11.35
CSI: NY
12.35
CSI: NY
1.35
CSI: Miami
Question of The DayMost Popular
|
Sat, Nov 21
South Bend
