Clark County Press, Neillsville, WI

April 28, 2010, Front Page & Page 2

Transcribed by Dolores Mohr Kenyon  

Hatfield Gearing up for Tourist Season

By Linda Cottrell-Sanders

Hatfield is a town divided but in a good way.  Half is situated in Jackson County and the remainder in Clark County, giving them the best of both locations.  The population, which is said to be 50 in winter, will soon swell to “5,000 in summer.”  The influx of tourists alone unites the two counties and the year-round residents into a common purpose – that of creating the best recreation opportunities the community can offer.

There are several area clubs, the Lake Arbutus Association, the ATV Club and the Sportsman’s Club, for example that work year-round on projects which all will benefit from.

The most visible group which works to tie it all together is the Hatfield Chamber of Commerce.  With the sudden loss of Chamber President Tim Bechel in October of 2009, the Chamber and the residents who came to rely on Bechel to handle all tourism-related events were not only saddened but totally in the dark as to who could do the job that he had handled so efficiently for many years.

Serving temporarily until the June election are two local gals who have channeled their energy into keeping the organization alive and well. Serving as interim president is Tasha Walker, with Lori Shoemaker now acting as secretary. The remaining two members of the group are Jason Errthum, vice president, and Barb Blumenberg, treasurer. Blumenberg has served as secretary and treasurer in the past, so creating a separate position has freed up her duties. 

The group has not only continued the fundraising and promotions Bechel oversaw but have also moved forward to take on some new projects.  The biggest ongoing fundraisers are geared to cover the cost of the annual July 4 fireworks over the lake.  This is financed mainly through year-round aluminum can collections. The group also has ongoing sales of T-shirts, hats, bumper stickers, beer steins and a new item, 12 oz. engraved glasses with the population sign on them.

The fireworks this year are scheduled for Saturday, July 3, 2010.  Other events put on by the Chamber include an annual spaghetti dinner, scheduled this year for June 3, at Deer View Lodge, and at the annual Fun Days celebration to be held Sept. 18 and 19.

About a year ago, Bechel began collecting recipes, perhaps because of his many years as cook at the Inwood Supper Club in Hatfield or because he felt it would be an excellent addition to items for sale by the Chamber.  With the new committee, the work on the book has progressed to “almost ready to print.”  Walker said, “The cookbook is dedicated 100 percent in honor of Bechel.”  It will contain 150 recipes, including a little of everything; the title? – “Small Town – Big Taste.”

Currently Chamber members have been hustling two big projects.  This past Saturday, April 24, it held an area-wide clean up, policing roadsides in the Adopt-a-Highway program on CTH’s K and E and throughout town on main routes and small side roads. Volunteers were sought to help with this project, meeting at 10 a.m. at the fire station, breaking only for lunch. Besides being civic minded, this is also in preparation for the Governor’s Fishing Opener, scheduled May 1 and 2 on Lake Arbutus.

The Governor’s Fishing Opener was conceived by Wisconsin Indian Head Country Tourism and receives local help from Black River and Hatfield Chambers of Commerce and Clark County Economic Development and Tourism Bureau.  Dignitaries will be arriving in Black River Falls Friday afternoon, April 30, and will kick off with a banquet. They will enjoy breakfast both Saturday and Sunday mornings at the Inwood Supper Club in Hatfield and take off from the boat landing at Russell Park in Clark County at 8 a.m.  Governor Doyle was previously in Hatfield in 2005 but, due to inclement weather, did not get a lot of fishing time.

This event also calls for local volunteers to help guide, provide boats and such. Steve Wyss, owner of Hatfield Sports Shop, said Chris Abbott, Garrett Miller and Bruce Kunze are among those who will serve as guides.  Kunze will guide for handicapped individuals during this event.  He also provides a pontoon and his time for those with disabilities who would like to fish Lake Arbutus at other times.  Wyss can be contacted at 715-333-5009 to help make these arrangements with Kunze.

Besides the Chamber, other groups are springing into action with summer approaching. The ATV Club reminds people the Clark County trails open May 1 and Jackson County May 15.  Those using the trails in Clark County and Russell Park are allowed to cross the short distance to the Northwoods Lodge convenience store and gas station for gas and supplies, but no further.  Dave Esch serves as president of the ATV group and Rod Johnson as vice president.  Bob Ehlen, trail boss, said the big yearly event for them is held July 3, when club members man the trails, distributing water, soda, maps and general information, including new ATV laws.

The Lake Arbutus Association is another important link in the Hatfield story.  This active group of individuals serves as the keepers of the lake, so to speak, even maintaining a web camera mounted on the dam on its Web site: www.lakearbutus.com.  The association monitors water quality, sponsors educational programs such as boat safety courses and also helps with donations to local causes.  Its goals have been beneficial to all residents living on the lake or those enjoying the recreation it offers.

The Sportsman’s Club has been an active force in the community for many years and has brought the area another annual event, the Carp Fest.  Planned this year for July 17, the fishing begins at midnight Friday and runs until 4 p.m. Saturday, with weigh-in at the Lake Arbutus Sports Bar and Grill on Riviera Avenue. Besides invoking the competitive nature of many local anglers, it brings in many fishermen from a wide area. The club stocked  perch in Lake Arbutus in 2008, which takes about four years to get established, so hopefully they will add to the variety of fish in the lake.  Another huge undertaking of this group is the handicap accessible fishing ramp, now ready for use at the Clark County North Arbutus Boat Landing.

This was an expensive and expansive project and one the group should be proud of.  Another endeavor of the club is to raise donations for the fireworks and also help coordinate and set up the event.

There are many more organizations at work behind the scenes, the Garden Club – ladies who AMVETS Park and place the hanging baskets on CTH K; the Snowmobile Club – Keeping the trails in the area maintained in Hatfield; Hatfield Fire Department and Rescue – sponsoring many fundraisers for equipment and supplies to the benefit of all who enjoy good eating; and the flea market – bringing the huge crowds into this small community four times a year.  It seems everyone in town has a role, some small, and some overwhelming at times, in keeping Hatfield the tourist attraction that it is. But more importantly, it takes a community willing to work together, plan together and have fun together to make this a great place to visit and even better to live in.