Lakes Journal.July 2020

Out on the lake Fishing advice and the battle against swimmer’s itch

INSIDE Big Fish Kayaks providing fun on the lake Blackboard gives guests unique dining experience Tornado hits Dalton area

PAID

JULY 2020 | MONTHLY NEWS AND EVENTS FROM THE OTTER TAIL AND GRANT COUNTY LAKES AREA | FREE

PRESORTED STD US POSTAGE

FOR LAKES JOURNAL.

Detroit Lakes, MN Permit No. 14

Olivia Penteado enjoys the sunset on Long Lake, Erhard.

PAGE 2 | LAKES JOURNAL | JULY 2020

Safety is important this summer — on and off the lake of the pandemic. I completely understood their position as I would have done the same (no need for extra exposure). Both work for a company that has very strict policies in regards to making contact with people from outside the immediate community.

Talking with the husband, he had stated that they could not travel outside of the state without quarantining for two weeks before returning to work. He had canceled plans to visit several outstate areas this summer because he did not want to stay at home without working. His wife had the option of working from home and chose to do so. They also could not have anyone in their home for extended periods of time.

It’s crazy to think that my summer, so far, has been very limited in options for fun and entertainment. My wife and I were both supposed to attend a concert at Target Field this summer. That was canceled back in April and now we are left finding

things close to home to amuse ourselves.

But while it may seem all gloom and doom, it really isn’t. There are plenty of things to do in Minnesota and most of them are in our own backyard.

Bicycle riding, camping, fishing, swimming and grilling are still things that can be done in the summer. I know that I always get excited when I can fire up my Big Green Egg and grill hamburgers, steaks, brats and hot dogs. My family has spent more time at the lake this summer than in prior years. My children are also getting outdoors more and using their imaginations. With less on the schedule, it seems like we are rediscovering things that our ancestors appreciated about the summer.

While we aren’t making trips to Duluth or Minneapolis to see family, our kids are experiencing their best summer. My son and I are working on his baseball skills, my daughter’s social skills are improving as she hangs out with the neighbor kids, my wife has found more time to do projects,

and I guess I am just overall more happy.

Before we planned out our summer with daily events, no break to enjoy the day. If one of our kids wasn’t going to a summer activity, we were on the road visiting someone out of town. While I will miss seeing family, we have kept in touch a lot more over the phone and online.

So, following the safety guidelines has had a positive effect on how my family and I have operated this summer.

I applaud those that are currently wearing masks in their communities when they venture out for groceries or household items and chose to follow current social distancing measures. They are doing something that not only benefits themselves, but also those around them.

Let’s stay safe and continue to enjoy the summer.

Zach Stich is the managing editor for Lakes Journal and the Fergus Falls Daily Journal.

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hen I am going out on a lake, I make safety a top priority. This usually means wearing a life jacket, having a small medical kit, knowing how far I am away from shore and making sure there is enough gas in the boat motor. But due to the coronavirus pandemic, I have found that safety has ZACH additional steps.

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LAKES JOURNAL | JULY 2020 | PAGE 3

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PAGE 4 | LAKES JOURNAL | JULY 2020

NEW TO THE LAKE

Big Fish Kayaks opens door to summer crowd

By Brian Hansel Lakes Journal

SUBMITTED

BIG FISH: Ben Christenson, left, and Nick Foss stand next to some paddle boards available at Big Fish Kayaks in Battle Lake. The store opened Saturday, July 3, and rents and sells a variety of water sports equipment. draft boat that can be powered, pedaled or paddled. Fishing kayaks also offer adjustable seats, rod holders and depth finders and can give an angler the ability to safely stand up to cast.

“It’s a great time,” said Foss, who believes people will enjoy both fishing and exploring with the kayaks.

COVID-19 has been an obstacle to overcome for the business. The virus has limited the flow of products.

“It’s been a lot of work,” Christenson said. “The biggest problem has been COVID-19 and getting products. It’s af-

fecting everyone.”

The business will be offering demonstration days and fishing seminars in the days and weeks ahead.

Rentals will be arranged on a half-day, full-day and weeklong basis.

Renters can have their rental equipment delivered to their homes or their lakes.

Realizing the attraction of ice cream during the summer months they also plan to open their own shop at Big Fish Kayaks.

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Christenson is the owner of the seasonal business, while Foss is a cousin who has a lot of experience with kayaks. The idea of opening a kayak business in Minnesota came from Foss’ father, Kevin, who got acquainted with the sport in New York where he serves as a pastor.

Christenson bought the property where Elmer’s Texas Barbeque was located. The father of five boys, Christenson is interested in teaching his offspring the virtues of work and responsibility in the years ahead.

Christenson grew up in Fergus Falls and his family has lived on Otter Tail Lake for 24 years. He has been selling imaging equipment to medical facilities for 23 years.

Otter Tail County’s resident population is approximately 58,000 but during weekends in the summer months that number can increase five times. Throw 1,000 lakes into the mix and the potential for a watersports business is obvious.

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PAGE 6 | LAKES JOURNAL | JULY 2020

ZACH STICH | DAILY JOURNAL

FRIENDS AND BUSINESS PARTNERS: Sara Watson and Terri Trickle are the owners of Blackboard, a new restaurant located near Dent. Since opening in June, the longtime restaurateurs have enjoyed their venture.

Chalk one up: Blackboard to provide cozy atmosphere and ‘good’ food

By Zach Stich Lakes Journal

Sometimes the writing is on the wall and other times you can erase it and start again.

With a well-known stop near Dent — The Pickle Factory Bar and Grill — being up for sale, it was a matter of time before someone decided to take the establishment and put their own spin on it. For friends Sara Watson and Terri Trickle, they took erasing and starting over again literally as they turned the bar and grill into Blackboard (29961 415th St., Vergas).

Friends since kindergarten, Watson and Trickle both have backgrounds in restaurants and bars. Watson has been working in the business for 15-plus years in Far-

go-Moorhead, while Trickle has had several of her own businesses. The two have worked together on and off for several years, but after the coronavirus pandemic caused several restaurants and bars to close, the duo decided to try something new. After a phone call to vent about the situation, Watson suggested that they just “buy The Pickle Factory” and Trickle said “OK.” The new owners took over the business on May 29, but there was plenty of work still to be done. “We did an extensive amount of cleaning, remodeling, redecorating and repairs” Trickle said. “We spent three weeks getting the building ready for service and by the time the building was ready, we could be open.”

Currently, the restaurant is open from 4-9 p.m. Wednesday through Saturday with the

bar staying open late. The owners hope to expand their hours and days when the restrictions are lifted and they have a well-trained staff. Watson and Trickle both emphasized that they care about the safety of not only their customers but the staff that works there.

Following the guidelines set by the state, the restaurant has been able to space out their tables, both in the restaurant and on their deck.

That isn’t to say the restaurant isn’t busy.

Since opening their doors, they have been filled to capacity nearly every night. As of now, the restaurant is first-come, first-served without reservations. But there has been discussion that out of town visitors may have the option in the future.

The menu is also unique as there may be a few standbys, but for the most part, it changes

every evening. One evening you may have a barbecue bacon-wrapped meatloaf, another a cavatappi alfredo. “We are very eclectic, and we intend to be. The menu changes often.

Someone will have something one week and come back the next week thinking it’s going to be here and it might not be,” Watson said.

Some of the items on the menu are also based on memories that the two had as kids including “School Lunch Lady” pizza, barbecued little smokies or homemade mozzarella sticks. “We want to recreate that experience for other people,” Trickle said.

“We are not fine dining, we are a bar in the country with good food,” Watson added.

Another aspect of the restaurant is what is in store for the kids. While many restaurants provide crayons and coloring paper, the

LAKES JOURNAL | JULY 2020 | PAGE 7

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eatery will provide its namesake and chalk for kids to use. In addition, there is also a candy shop inside the restaurant that children and adults can purchase their favorite candies.

The Blackboard is also looking for help. While Watson’s and Trickle’s families have been helping out, the owners are looking for additional staff including wait staff, cooks and bartenders. “We have seven staff members, and we need seven more,” Watson laughed.

The restaurant has done takeout and a few catering gigs.

“Will do more as we are able to,” Watson said. Not only is catering on the table, but Blackboard is also available to host events including weddings, brunches and birthday parties.

“What our goal is, is to renovate a service kitchen downstairs so that we can have more catering options,” Trickle added.

One of the hardest adjustments for the restaurant is the new restrictions. “We have to reprint the menus every single day and that is a huge cost,” Trickle added. This has changed the way both are used to operating but they have quickly adapted.

While the view is spectacular during the summer, both owners are excited for every season’s opportunities. “It will be so gorgeous out here in the winter. We have neighbors down the road that do sleigh rides, we will collaborate with a lot of neighbors to do fun activities. We have enough land here to do cross-country skiing, snowshoeing. We will always be here for a cozy warm spot with good food and hot totties,” Watson laughed.

While it is a great start, both owners have visions for the future. This includes stops by cyclists coming from the new bicycle path being installed, flower gardens around the building and expanded seating. But for now, Watson and Trickle will continue to produce good food.

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PAGE 8 | LAKES JOURNAL | JULY 2020

TORNADO RAVAGES COUNTRYSIDE SOUTHEAST OF DALTON Fatality, homes, buildings destroyed

By Brian Hansel Lakes Journal

Paul Nelson was mowing the front yard Wednesday, July 8 when he turned and saw a tornado funnel headed his way.

Between Nelson and the tornado was his ranch-style home. Inside the home, still oblivious to the terrible danger was his wife, Dawn.

“I turned the mower, I looked up and it was coming straight at me,” said Nelson, a retired conservation officer living 3 miles southeast of Dalton along County Highway 82.

With the twister only a few hundred yards away, Nelson raced to his house and yelled a warning.

It was 5:13 p.m. on Dawn’s smartphone when she snapped the passing funnel. It twisted their home on its foundation, destroyed their detached shop and blasted a grove of trees and shrubs which Paul had planted. Debris was scattered up and down their driveway.

The Nelsons both survived as the twister brushed past their home and plunged across the paved county highway to destroy in quick succession the

BRIAN HANSEL | DAILY JOURNAL

TORNADO DAMAGE: An SUV was left in the basement of a home owned by Gareth Klimek near the Blacken Lake Waterfowl Production Area in St. Olaf Township.

Klimek’s home was taken away by a tornado Wednesday evening. homes of Travis Hansen, Drew Hanson and Gareth Klimek. As it passed a few miles east of Dalton it left the ground and disappeared into a huge cloud.

Two of Hansen’s workers were working in the shop when the tornado struck, scattering heavy equipment and push-

ing over heavy tractor-trailers. Preliminary reports indicate that one of the men in the shop was killed, later identified as Seth Nelson, 30, the other injured. When asked, Otter Tail County deputies at the scene could not provide any other details.

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LAKES JOURNAL | JULY 2020 | PAGE 9

DAWN NELSON | SUBMITTED

TOO CLOSE: The tornado responsible for damage in Otter Tail County Wednesday, July 8 heads northward from the rural residence of Paul and Dawn Nelson 3 miles southeast of Dalton. Immediately across County Highway 82 from the Nelson residence was the home and shop of Travis Hansen, where 30-year-old Seth Nelson of Battle Lake was killed.

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When the tornado was gone, so was the house. An acquaintance of Klimek’s, Don Larson of Ashby, visited the site afterward and took the trouble to look around.

“I still don’t know where the house is,” Larson said quietly as he returned to his vehicle.

Among the emergency units responding were Otter Tail, Grant and Douglas County sheriff’s offices, Ringdahl Ambulance, the Dalton and Ashby fire departments and Ashby Ambulance.

The tornado was believed to be in the EF3 range.

“On July 8, at approximately 5:15 p.m., a potential EF3-EF4 tornado, not yet confirmed by the National Weather Service, touched down southeast of the city of Dalton in Otter Tail County,” Otter Tail County Sheriff Barry Fitzgibbons wrote in a release. “Several properties were damaged and a home and machine shed were completely swept off their foundations and blown away. Two people were transported to hospitals and were released with minor injuries. Unfortunately, a fatality has occurred as a direct result of the tornado.

The Red Cross is on standby to assist impacted families and the county damage assessment teams will begin to assess the damage this morning. The National Weather Service has been on-site and is assisting with the asMOLLY HOVLAND | SUBMITTED sessment.”

GETTING CLOSE: A view of Wednesday, July 8 tornado at a home in Dalton.

PAGE 10 | LAKES JOURNAL | JULY 2020

Absentee ballot applications up significantly

By Brian Hansel Lakes Journal

While the COVID-19 pandemic may be uppermost in the minds of the public this summer, American politics has also been vying for the limelight.

Absentee ballots are a hot item as the Aug. 11 primary approaches.

Otter Tail County Auditor Wayne Stein received an email from St. Paul last week that contained a dynamic trend in the 2020 elections. Going by the number of absentee applications, Minnesotans are taking social distancing very seriously when it comes to voting. No less than 350,516 absentee ballots had been distributed to state residents as of July 10.

The 2018 election saw 21,043 absentee ballots distributed and the 2016 election generated just 12,936 ballot requests.

“It’s significantly higher,” Stein said recently.

While Americans may like the idea of voting absentee this year to avoid any contact with COVID-19, Stein does not regard it as a sign that 2020 will see a lighter voting turnout.

“My initial reaction would be no,” Stein said.

Stein pointed out that regular polling places will be open for the primary and the general elections.

“There are things being done to lessen people’s concerns,” Stein said of the polling places. In addition to masks for election judges and for voters, hand sanitizers and disinfectant will be on site. Social

SUBMITTED

TRENDING: According to the state, absentee ballots have seen an increase this election cycle as extra precautions are being taken during the coronavirus pandemic. distancing will also be observed.

There are two ways to obtain an absentee ballot by mail. An online application can be requested by going to: mnvotes. sos.state.mn.us/ABRegistration/ABRegistrationStep1.aspx. Upon receipt of the application the appropriate ballot, envelopes and instructions will be mailed

out.

A paper absentee ballot can be obtained by applying to: sos.state.mn.us/ media/2444/english-regular-absentee-ballot-application.pdf.

Applicants without internet access should contact the elections office at 218-998-8040. A paper absentee ballot

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application will be mailed. The completed application can then be emailed to voter@co.ottertail.mn.us or mailed to Elections, Government Services Center, 510 W. Fir Ave. W., Fergus Falls, MN, 56537.

To vote absentee in person all interested individuals can submit their ballot in person at the Otter Tail County Auditor-Treasurer’s Office in the Government Services Center from 8 a.m.-4:30 p.m.

Monday through Friday. A half-hour will be added at the end of the day Aug. 10.

The office will also be open for absentee voting from 10 a.m.-3 p.m. on Saturday, Aug. 8.

“I just want people to participate in the method that is most comfortable for them,” Stein said.

The Aug. 11 ballot contains primary candidates for federal offices from the Republican and Democratic-Farmer-Labor Parties as well as the Legal Marijuana Now Party and the Grassroots-Legalize Cannabis Party. Votes will be cast for U.S. Senator and District 7 House of Representative candidates.

The primary ballot will give voters the chance to vote for one of six District 1 county commissioner candidates and one of the five people running for the District 3 seat. Neither incumbent, Doug Huebsch of District 1 or John Lindquist of District 3, is running for another term on the board of commissioners.

Absentee voting in the 2020 elections began June 26 and is scheduled to end at 5 p.m. Aug. 10.

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LAKES JOURNAL | JULY 2020 | PAGE 11

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• Build your dream home! • 273 ft of frontage on approximately 2 acres • Panoramic view, deep lot • $414,900 Erin Olson • 320-293-1123

• 150 ft. of frontage • Great sunsets on premiere lake! • 3 bd/2 bath home - possible 5 bedroom • $4 ,000 Dan Ness • 218-770-6714

WEST BATTLE LAKE 20-30609

JULY SALES

by Alan W. Olson, Associate Broker/Manager Sales are on par with 2019 in the Otter Tail County MLS. The sale of lake homes is way up by 30%. I live on the lake and have never seen so much boat traffic. People are glad to be out and enjoying the lakes.

Rural home sales are even with 2019. Fergus Falls Residential sales are down 28%, but so is the inventory. There is only a 1.6 month supply of homes for sale. Demand is high as we see many multiple offers on homes.

My advice for buyers and sellers is to choose an agent that knows the local market and trends.

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• 166 ft gorgeous treed lot on Long Lake! • Pull in your camper or start building your dream home! • $45,000 Connie Caspers • 701-640-3161

• 150’ of level lakefront • 4 bd/3 bath home w/open floor plan & hardwood floors • Gorgeous view • Great swimming beach • $659,000 Charlie Brue • 218-205-6568

• Charming 3-bedroom cottage on 76’ level lot on South Point!

• Woodburning fireplace • Lakeside deck $390,000 Judi Olson 218-205-8543

• Beautiful, partially cleared lots with amazing views of Lake Geneva! • 100 ft lot 20-29666 $2 4,500 109 ft lot 20-29667 • $3 ,000 Erin Olson • 320-293-1123

WALL LAKE 20-30902

RUSH LAKE 20-29763

PENDING

• 100’ level lakeshore on Wall Lake!

• 3 bed/2 bath year-round open-concept home. $329,900 Connie Caspers 701-640-3161

• 2 bd/1 ba seasonal cabin right on the water’s edge! • Great swimming. Beautiful sunrises & sunsets • $175,000 Alan Olson • 218-205-7128

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•Cozy cabin w/access to 70ft of sandy shoreline • 2 lg bedrooms, fully furnished • Includes dock and boat! • $17 ,900 Lyn Bjorgaard • 218-205-6947

PAGE 12 | LAKES JOURNAL | JULY 2020

Expert advice from Mr. Crappie E

arlier this week, I had the privilege of spending three days in the boat with Wally Marshall, aka “Mr. Crappie.” We fished for his namesake fish species while filming an episode for “Fishing the Midwest TV.” Marshall is a truly iconic angler, as his 33 years in the fishing industry includes a long list of accomplishments.

MIKE Those include his developing several “crappie-specific” FRISCH products under his trade- Fishing with Frisch marked Mr. Crappie brand.

And, recently, founding a consumer crappie fishing event called “Crappie Expo” that also includes the $200,000 Mr. Crappie Invitational fishing tournament and the “World’s Largest Fish Fry.” Wally is a true gentleman and great angler, but he is a bit of a character as well. Not particularly fond of snow and cold, Marshall joked that, while this was his first open-water Min-

nesota fishing trip, he had been to Minnesota in the winter before, “I made two winter trips here, my first and last!”

Marshall and I battled high winds, heat and storms for the better part of three days. During that time, I was able to learn some of Wally’s crappie wisdom. Included, were many interesting thoughts, with several being pertinent to Midwestern anglers.

A big difference that Marshall noted between Midwestern crappie fishing and fishing in the Southern states revolved around the structure or cover that crappies use to call home.

“We fish lots of structure, like brush piles, that we actually put in the lakes for the crappies to get around,” Marshall said. “Up here, you don’t have that, so you fish around grass.”

“Grass” is the term Wally used to describe the cabbage and coontail weeds we were finding crappies around.

While the structure that Midwestern crappies relate to might be different than Southern crappies, the baits used for catching fish are

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MR. CRAPPIE: Wally Marshall, Mr. Crappie, and a fish he caught on a Mr. Crappie ShadPole on his recent trip to Minnesota.

LAKES JOURNAL | JULY 2020 | PAGE 13

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was not new to me, but one thing where Marshall definitely differs from many Midwestern anglers is on his line choice. Many Midwestern waters are clear and anglers are programmed to believe that fish are “line shy” meaning low visibility lines produce the best.

Marshall disagrees. “I think fish can see all lines and bright line actually attract fish in some cases,” Wally said. “I developed a Mr. Crappie line in a hi-vis monofilament. I like hi vis because I can see the line jump when a fish hits, even on a long cast. I’ve been all over the country and caught crappies on it!”

We definitely caught crappies on the hi-vis line and, I am fortunate to have had the chance to share a boat with Mr. Crappie. A good guy, a great angler, and the wisdom he shared will be beneficial to this angler on my future crappie fishing trips. Wisdom that can be used to help other Midwestern anglers up their crappie catches too!

As always, good luck on the water and remember to include a youngster in your next outdoors adventure!

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pretty similar. Small jigs tipped with plastics and very slowly retrieved over and along the “grass” was the fishing method we used. This is the same method commonly used by Midwestern anglers, though Marshall’s preference is for a bit larger baits than are often preferred here.

“One goal I had in coming up here was to show that you don’t have to use those little bitty baits and tubes to catch them,” Wally said.

“They’ll readily hit baits 2-inches long.”

Marshall was spot on with that assessment as we put several dozen fish in the boat during our time together using a couple of his signature series baits. The “Mr. Crappie Slabalicious” and the “Mr. Crappie ShadPole” are both 2-inches long with enticing actions that the Minnesota crappies loved.

Not only are these baits built with fish-attracting actions, but they come in a wide variety of appealing colors too, many of which we caught fish on. Marshall caught several fish on the “Tuxedo Black Chartreuse Glo” color pattern, while my favorite color became a new color called “Who Dat.” Wally and I fished these baits on his “Mr. Crappie Sausage Head” jigs in pink or chartreuse colors, mostly in the 1/16-ounce size.

Fishing jigs and plastics on slow retrieves

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PAGE 14 | LAKES JOURNAL | JULY 2020

SUMMER SCRATCH Swimmer’s itch back in some county lakes

Lakes Journal

With watersports popular again there has been reports of swimmer’s itch in lakes like Otter Tail and East Lost. Both lakes are part of the Otter Tail River watershed.

Swimmer’s itch is common with reported cases somewhere in the county almost every summer. It is not confined to the county either. It is considered a worldwide problem.

“We do see swimmer’s itch in our community, especially during the early summer season,” Otter Tail County Public Health assistant director, Kristi Wentworth said. “Perhaps people want to avoid the marshy areas of the lake and swim in the deeper spots, if it’s safe for them to do so. Showering and drying off well after you swim is always

a good idea as well.”

According to the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, swimmer’s itch is a rash caused by an allergic reaction to parasites that will burrow into the skin while a person is swimming or wading. The parasites live in birds and mammals but before affecting those hosts swimmer’s itch gets released into the waters by infected snails living near the shoreline. It is one of the reasons that children have the highest risk of the disease but it’s not contagious and usually goes away within a week.

Swimmer’s itch in a lake is not permanent but there is no way of knowing how long it can be in the water.

According to the Mayo Clinic, the disease can be controlled with hydrocortisone cream applied to the skin. The cream will help with both itching and rash.

Other treatments are antihista-

MATHEW HOLDING EAGLE | LAKES JOURNAL

SWIMMER’S ITCH: Swimmer’s itch is very common during the summer months. Otter Tail County Public Health assistant Kristi Wentworth suggests that swimmers avoid marshy areas of lakes or swim in deeper spots, if they can. mines such as Benadryl, which can be taken orally.

Tips from the Minnesota Department of Health for dealing with swimmer’s itch include: bathing in epsom salts or baking soda, soaking in colloidal oatmeal bath, and applying cool compresses to the affected areas.

There are some preventative tips to keep in mind: • Choose swimming spots carefully. Avoid swimming in

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• Rinse after swimming. Rinse exposed skin with clean water immediately after leaving the water, then vigorously dry your skin with a towel. Wash swimsuits often.

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• Apply waterproof sunscreen.

This has been reported to protect the skin from the parasite that causes swimmer’s itch.

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LAKES JOURNAL | JULY 2020 | PAGE 15

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