People need to be warned to stay off the Fox River even if it looks frozen. This is a dangerous river.

Years ago my husband and I were on the Fox River and I could see some open water on the sides. I told my husband to get off but he kept going. There was a friend with us. All of a sudden there was open water. He tried to go fast to get over it. Down we went. People think on a snowmobile they can get off. Wrong. The footboards cover with ice and your feet slide down. Your boots and clothes fill with water that weighs you down. My husband, a big man, was pushing against me. I am only 5 feet. The backrest on snowmobiles are not only for safety but are dangerous too. My feet kept slipping and I couldn’t get off the back with the backrest. Our friend was afraid to get too close, so he went to get a rope. He did manage to pull us off. Hypothermia sets in fast, so we had to get our clothes off fast.

So if anyone thinks it’s safe to go on the Fox River, think of your family before you take a chance. There are lots of open spots on that river and thin ice. Also, just a couple of days ago I saw a lone ice fisherman on there with his shanty, and I heard at Paddock Lake there were many shanties and a pickup on the thawing ice. I saw on (Highway) W where a snowmobile went across thin ice and down the middle of the river. People can’t be warned enough about how dangerous it is.

Nancy Vestal

Wheatland