The Gratiot Conservation Club was at the point of disbanding in the late 1970s. Then, Clifford "Cookie" Wells, Arleigh Bondele and Don Knouse recognized the community needed a strong conservation organization and refused to let it die.
According to long-time member Paul Mau, they went out and recruited more than 30 members over the next few years, thus ensuring the viability of one of the area's most successful conservation groups.
The organization now has approximately 50 members, many of whom also are actively involved with the Lafayette County Sportsmen's Alliance and the Pecatonica River Enhancement Council.
That legacy will continue when area sportsmen and women gather at the annual Department of Natural Resources fish and wildlife rule hearings and Wisconsin Conservation Congress county meetings next Monday night.
Honoring the tradition of conservation commitment takes on special meaning this year, however, as the gathering will be without Mike Wells, son of "Cookie" Wells, and one of the area's most influential sportsmen.
Wells was a Lafayette County delegate to the Conservation Congress, current president of the Lafayette County Sportsmen's Alliance and a past president of the Gratiot Club. He passed away suddenly Easter Sunday morning.
"It's a great loss," said Mau, who has taken the reins of the LCSA. "Mike led by example to help with projects like the (Yellowstone Lake) Fisharee and building fishing piers and canoe launches," he said.
Dave Breunig, Darlington mayor and a delegate to the Conservation Congress, echoed those sentiments.
"Mike did a tremendous job for the whole area," he said. "He had a pulse for what the sportsmen wanted."
"He was so proud of his association with the Gratiot club and the various other groups in the area," Breunig asserted. "People had respect for him. They listened when he spoke about the issues."
Area sportsmen and women will elect a new Lafayette County delegate to replace Wells on the Conservation Congress next Monday. Steve Staver of Shullsburg also is up for re-election in Lafayette County.
All 72 Wisconsin counties will have annual meetings at 7 p.m., Mon., April 14. The meeting locations and points of contact are as follows:
Green County: Monroe Middle School, 1510 13th St., Ken Risley, 938-4743
Lafayette County: Darlington High School, 11838 Center Hill Rd., Mike Gould, 776-2741
Iowa County: Dodgeville High School, 912 N. Chapel St., Steve Holmes 935-5469
Rock County: Janesville Moose Lodge, 2701 Rockport Ave., Larry Meyer, (262) 473-2794
Grant County: Youth & Ag Bldg, 916 E. Elm St. Lancaster, Albert Kwallek, 723-4976
Blackhawk Park
clean-up day is Saturday
Area sportsmen's clubs will take part in a clean-up day Saturday at Blackhawk Park in Woodford. The timing of the effort coincides with the annual Earth Day activities for Lafayette County fifth-grade students scheduled for Mon., April 18.
Clean-up will start at 9 a.m. Saturday. Volunteers are encouraged to bring along equipment, such as chainsaws, pruning shears, shovels, rakes and axes. Lunch will be provided.
- Lee Fahrney can be reached at (608) 967-2208 or at fiveoaks@mhtc.net.
According to long-time member Paul Mau, they went out and recruited more than 30 members over the next few years, thus ensuring the viability of one of the area's most successful conservation groups.
The organization now has approximately 50 members, many of whom also are actively involved with the Lafayette County Sportsmen's Alliance and the Pecatonica River Enhancement Council.
That legacy will continue when area sportsmen and women gather at the annual Department of Natural Resources fish and wildlife rule hearings and Wisconsin Conservation Congress county meetings next Monday night.
Honoring the tradition of conservation commitment takes on special meaning this year, however, as the gathering will be without Mike Wells, son of "Cookie" Wells, and one of the area's most influential sportsmen.
Wells was a Lafayette County delegate to the Conservation Congress, current president of the Lafayette County Sportsmen's Alliance and a past president of the Gratiot Club. He passed away suddenly Easter Sunday morning.
"It's a great loss," said Mau, who has taken the reins of the LCSA. "Mike led by example to help with projects like the (Yellowstone Lake) Fisharee and building fishing piers and canoe launches," he said.
Dave Breunig, Darlington mayor and a delegate to the Conservation Congress, echoed those sentiments.
"Mike did a tremendous job for the whole area," he said. "He had a pulse for what the sportsmen wanted."
"He was so proud of his association with the Gratiot club and the various other groups in the area," Breunig asserted. "People had respect for him. They listened when he spoke about the issues."
Area sportsmen and women will elect a new Lafayette County delegate to replace Wells on the Conservation Congress next Monday. Steve Staver of Shullsburg also is up for re-election in Lafayette County.
All 72 Wisconsin counties will have annual meetings at 7 p.m., Mon., April 14. The meeting locations and points of contact are as follows:
Green County: Monroe Middle School, 1510 13th St., Ken Risley, 938-4743
Lafayette County: Darlington High School, 11838 Center Hill Rd., Mike Gould, 776-2741
Iowa County: Dodgeville High School, 912 N. Chapel St., Steve Holmes 935-5469
Rock County: Janesville Moose Lodge, 2701 Rockport Ave., Larry Meyer, (262) 473-2794
Grant County: Youth & Ag Bldg, 916 E. Elm St. Lancaster, Albert Kwallek, 723-4976
Blackhawk Park
clean-up day is Saturday
Area sportsmen's clubs will take part in a clean-up day Saturday at Blackhawk Park in Woodford. The timing of the effort coincides with the annual Earth Day activities for Lafayette County fifth-grade students scheduled for Mon., April 18.
Clean-up will start at 9 a.m. Saturday. Volunteers are encouraged to bring along equipment, such as chainsaws, pruning shears, shovels, rakes and axes. Lunch will be provided.
- Lee Fahrney can be reached at (608) 967-2208 or at fiveoaks@mhtc.net.
