Rangers Push Safety on Beaver Lake During Holiday Weekend
By: Cassidy Hodges
Updated: May 27, 2012
It's the beginning of the boating season, so water skills may be a bit rusty.
Memorial day weekend, Both Rangers and Deputies are checking life jackets and making sure folks aren't drinking and driving on the lake.
"You never know when something is going to happen, you've got to be prepared when it does," says Alan Bland, with the Army Corps of Engineers.
With record breaking attendance this Memorial weekend, law enforcement are blazing blue lights all across Beaver Lake.
Because at the start of every boating season, Rangers have to remind folks of the rules.
"We're not out here to write tickets and get mean and get bad after everybody, we're here to make sure everybody's safe," says Bland.
And a lot of boaters are on board with their presence.
"It's been patrolled well. Believe it or not there are some people on the lake that take advantage of alcohol and they think that they can still get on their vehicles and ride them and they're not safe. So I like the safety," says boater Dindy Seliga.
Ranger Alan Bland says a mixture of the hot sun, rocking boat and alcohol can be a deadly combination.
"That's when our accidents happen and that's when things go wrong," says Bland.
Like three boats that accidentally run aground Saturday night.
"They'd been out on the water all day. Stressed out not even thinking about it, and then boom they hit something. We're very lucky that everybody lived through those accidents," says Bland.
Ranger Bland hopes that with 20 officers from four different agencies patrolling the lake, everyone will have a safe holiday.
"The key for everybody is to go home tomorrow afternoon safe and sound and no more accidents," says Bland.
Now if you want to freshen up on those boating rules, visit AGFC.COM and look for the 2012 Boating Regulation book.
Memorial day weekend, Both Rangers and Deputies are checking life jackets and making sure folks aren't drinking and driving on the lake.
"You never know when something is going to happen, you've got to be prepared when it does," says Alan Bland, with the Army Corps of Engineers.
With record breaking attendance this Memorial weekend, law enforcement are blazing blue lights all across Beaver Lake.
Because at the start of every boating season, Rangers have to remind folks of the rules.
"We're not out here to write tickets and get mean and get bad after everybody, we're here to make sure everybody's safe," says Bland.
And a lot of boaters are on board with their presence.
"It's been patrolled well. Believe it or not there are some people on the lake that take advantage of alcohol and they think that they can still get on their vehicles and ride them and they're not safe. So I like the safety," says boater Dindy Seliga.
Ranger Alan Bland says a mixture of the hot sun, rocking boat and alcohol can be a deadly combination.
"That's when our accidents happen and that's when things go wrong," says Bland.
Like three boats that accidentally run aground Saturday night.
"They'd been out on the water all day. Stressed out not even thinking about it, and then boom they hit something. We're very lucky that everybody lived through those accidents," says Bland.
Ranger Bland hopes that with 20 officers from four different agencies patrolling the lake, everyone will have a safe holiday.
"The key for everybody is to go home tomorrow afternoon safe and sound and no more accidents," says Bland.
Now if you want to freshen up on those boating rules, visit AGFC.COM and look for the 2012 Boating Regulation book.
