Caution urged on early season ice

After a brief cold spell, lots of area lakes and rivers took on a layer of fresh ice at the surface, but area authorities are urging people to be careful if you decide to venture out on the ice. A few instances where people fell in these bodies of water through the ice have occurred.

In Kewaunee, county sheriff’s officers recovered a 65-year-old Kewaunee man Monday morning, December 9, 2024, from the Kewaunee River after he failed to return home from an ice fishing trip Sunday night. His vehicle and some equipment was located along the shores of the River, about a mile west of the city of Kewaunee. He was found at 10 AM the next day deceased in the river.

The Suamico Fire Department, along with other local agencies were called for an ice rescue in the Bay of Green Bay Monday afternoon after a report came in of a man falling through the ice.
The man was found in the water unresponsive and life saving measures were performed. He was transported to an area hospital. His condition is not known.

And in Green Lake County on Saturday, a person drove their car out on the ice on Lake Puckaway, and broke through, partially submerging their vehicle into the icy waters. The driver was able to jump to safety.

The Wisconsin DNR said ice at this time of year, especially with the fluctuation in temperatures, may look solid but is often far too weak to support people or vehicles. The DNR doesn’t monitor local ice conditions for the public, but fishing shops, clubs or outfitters sometimes do and people wanting to venture out on the ice for any reason should check with them first.