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Lake Info
Normal Lake Level is 322.00 feet
above Mean Sea Level.
Current level for Cedar Creek Lake is:
319.39
Water Temperature:
na degrees - top
57 degrees - bottom
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Education, planning,
preparation and life jackets save lives
By Jim Salzmann
Special to The Monitor
CEDAR CREEK LAKE–The national media has been saturated with the gripping
story of four athletes who went fishing off Clearwater, Fla., recently.
National Football League players Victor “Marquis” Cooper and Cory Smith,
along with former University of South Florida football players Will
Bleakley and Nick Schuyler, were thrown into the sea when their boat
capsized Feb. 28.
Schuyler alone was rescued and is recuperating from the effects of
exposure and hypothermia, while the U.S. Coast Guard search for Cooper,
Smith and Bleakley was called off March 3.
Doctors were calling Schuyler’s survival “a miracle,” since he was in
63-degree water for about 46 hours before his rescue. Doctors estimated
Schuyler would not have survived another eight to 10 hours if he had not
been found.
These men set off confident in their knowledge and skill, but were
overpowered by nature. The tragic result of an enjoyable outing of four
friends reminds us all to take proper care when setting out upon the
waters.
According to the Center for Disease Control, the number of people who
die in recreational boating accidents each year is about the same as
those who perish in general aviation accidents.
There is a high perception of the potential dangers inherent in
aviation, while boating is thought to be relatively safe.
In most places, a person with no boating experience can rent a boat and
take to the high seas – no questions asked. The same is not true for
operating an airplane or even an automobile.
Most boating accidents are preventable. It starts by everyone on a boat
wearing a properly fitting U.S. Coast Guard approved life jacket.
Wearing a life jacket will keep you afloat and help delay the effects of
hypothermia. Remember – life jackets save lives!
Education, planning and preparation are also vital to a successful
boating outing.
Education. Whether your state requires boater education or not, the U.S.
Coast Guard Auxiliary urges that every boater takes a Boater Education
class.
Just like an automobile or an airplane, operating a boat requires more
than just throttling up or setting a sail and getting underway.
There are navigation rules, weather considerations, knowing how to
respond to a person overboard, knowing how to place a distress call and
knowing how to respond when you are physically unable, among other bits
of knowledge.
Remember – educated boaters save lives. Take a boating safety class.
Call Jon Raden, Public Education Staff Officer, at (972) 875-7842.
Preparation and Planning. Have your boat checked out to make sure it
complies with applicable Federal and State regulations for boats.
These checks conducted by the Coast Guard Auxiliary and U.S. Power
Squadron help make sure that you have needed safety equipment on your
boat.
Remember – safe boats save lives! Get a Vessel Safety Check.
File a Float Plan with a friend or other relative. Make sure they know
where you plan on boating and when you plan on returning.
They also need to know who to call, if you do not return at the
indicated time.
Make sure you have effective communications for your boating outing. A
marine band VHF-FM radio can be extremely valuable, but has limited
range.
Additionally, cell phones become less effective the further you are from
shore, and may receive no signal at all beyond 15-20 miles.
Take a lesson from the Boy Scouts – be prepared for sudden and dramatic
changes in weather, whether you are couple of miles offshore or 20 miles
away from land.
It is common for fog to develop or strong winds to start blowing. Listen
to weather forecasts before you go and on your VHF-FM marine radio while
underway.
Many times, weather near shore is significantly calmer than weather
offshore, and knowing the forecast for your intended destination can
help you decide whether to leave the dock, stay in more protected areas
or even stay at home.
What if you do end up in the water unintentionally? If you are wearing
your life jacket you’re half-way there.
If the boat does capsize, keep everyone together and stay with the boat
Flares, mirrors, strobe lights, whistles and other signaling devices
allow rescuers to quickly locate people who are already in the water and
need help.
The Coast Guard will search at night, as well as during daylight, and
anything that will make you more visible significantly aids your ability
to be detected.
Again, always wear a life jacket. Life jackets save lives!
MHS, EHS
both fall
Monitor Staff Reports
CEDAR CREEK LAKE–Both Mabank and Eustace soccer teams were defeated in
their next-to-last district matches Tuesday night.
The loss was most critical for the youthful Eustace Lady Bulldogs, as
they saw their slender playoff hopes severely damaged in a 4-1 loss to
the Athens Lady Hornets.
Hallie Mathis provided Eustace’s only goal.
Monitor Photo/Kerry Yancey
Eustace Lady Bulldog LaShawnda Martin (white
uniform) gets tripped by Mabank Lady Panther April Cron (8) as she and
teammate Ashton Norman battle Martin for possession during their
District 31-4A soccer match in Eustace March 6.
Mabank’s girls, who have already clinched the District 31-4A
fourth-place berth, also fell to the Lindale Lady Eagles 4-1 Tuesday
night.
Mabank’s boys, who still have an outside shot at grabbing the district’s
fourth-place berth, became the latest Lindale victim, 8-0.
Unbeaten Lindale (20-0, 9-0 in district) has not allowed a single goal
in district play, outscoring opponents 51-0.
Both Mabank and Eustace soccer teams were scheduled to wind up regular
season play Friday night, with Eustace’s teams heading to Chapel Hill.
Mabank’s girls were scheduled to host Athens, while Mabank’s boys
visited Athens.
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Upcoming games |
Golf
March 17
MHS b @ Lindale tourn.
March 23
MHS boys @ Ennis
MHS girls @ Canton
KHS @ EHS tourney
(CCCC) |
Track
March 26
Crandall Coca-Cola Relays |
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Baseball
March 16
KHS @ Crandall
EHS vs All Saints
March 17
MHS vs Terrell*
EHS vs Brownsboro
March 20
MHS @ Red Oak*
KHS @ Van*
EHS @ Mineola*
March 24
MHS vs Mesquite Poteet*
KHS @ Wills Point*
EHS vs Canton*
March 27
MHS @ Forney*
KHS vs EHS*
March 31
MHS vs Lancaster*
KHS @ Mineola*
EHS vs Wills Point*
*district contest
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Softball
March 16
MHS @ Red Oak*
March 17
KHS @ Canton*
EHS vs Van*
March 18
MHS vs Mesquite Poteet*
March 20
KHS @ Van*
EHS @ Mineola*
March 24
MHS @ Forney*
KHS @ Wills Point*
EHS vs Canton*
March 27
MHS vs Lancaster*
KHS vs EHS*
*district contest
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