May 16th--A Beautiful Day to Work at Shimek

On a crisp , sunny day--May 16th--fourteen FOS volunteers and all DNR Shimek staff met to cleanup the campgrounds and to clear downed trees, mow some trails and generally improve the riding conditions and appearance in the equestrian campgrounds and on the riding trails.   Thanks to all the volunteers and the entire DNR crew.  Special thanks to the several volunteers who are not equestrians but enjoy and appreciate our forests.


Forester John Byrd gives the days "marching orders" before crews head off to the trails and spread out around the two campgrounds to get the place cleaned up.

Here volunteers are shown clearing gutters and cleaning out stalls in the Lower Campground.

Pam Ball, Marsha Achenbach and Shirley Mulligan followed by DNR employee Ben Hassman all carry collected bags of recyclable cans and bottles for sorting and bagging correctly. Over $150 was raised this time.

Three ATV crews head off to cut downed trees, remove fallen debris from trails and trim back overgrowth.

Forester Update: New Addition to WWT

We began the Wet Weather Trail System (WWT) in 2013 with the objective of providing some trails that can be ridden in more adverse conditions than the dirt trails, thus offering you, the riders, more days of suitable riding opportunity each year.   The first section of over 3 miles opened in 2014.

The project of adding 2.2 miles of trails to the WWT system has been ongoing since fall of 2015.  Weather is always a contributing factor to getting work completed on the trails, but we have been working diligently when it has been dry and we can take a break from forestry duties.  It is my pleasure to announce that we have COMPLETED the new addition to the WWT system.  This is an exciting time due to the scope of the project that we started a couple years ago.  It opens up a new part of the forest to riding when dirt trails are too soggy to ride.  This new trail should give users another option when conditions could otherwise be damaging to trails.  The WWT should insure  increased safety for both riders and horses or mules and  protect another section of the forest from extreme erosion.  

       

The new section of WWT was made possible by many hands and organizations that also share the forest's vision of protected and sustainable trails.  The major funding agency was the William M. and Donna J. Hoaglin Foundation which provided grants for the majority of the rock for both the initial WWT and for the addition to the WWT.  Friends of Shimek also provides  major support by dedicating funds every year to rock for trail development and maintenance and by managing the foundation grant.  The Iowa DNR funded additional rock needed and DNR Shimek staff did the trail construction work including shaping and rocking.  

       

From today forward this new section of the WWT System is open and is included in the trails that can be ridden both when all trails are open and when the trail status is Closed---WWT Open.  Signage is not complete yet but the trail should be obvious due to the rock on the trail.  A sign is posted on the side of each information kiosk that shows the complete WWT System.  There still is a possibility of closing the WWT if maintenance is needed or there are unusually wet conditions, so always check trail status before riding.  
       

Thank you to everyone that put work into the project or donated funds.  Thank you to all of the riders who have supported the plan to have a WWT System by following the guidelines posted for trail status and only riding trails that are open.   This addition to the WWT is another big step in the development of a sustainable trail system. The DNR Shimek staff and Friends of Shimek, with your help and support, will continue to work towards having the most sustainable trails possible.

   

Thank you and happy riding.

   

John Byrd,  Shimek Forester


Note:  See the page titled Trails at Shimek: Open, Closed or WWT? for a map and guidelines.

 

Section of the WWT Addition

 

In Memory of Donna J. Hoaglin

Two grants from the William M. & Donna J. Hoaglin Foundation  enabled FOS and DNR to establish the Wet Weather Trail system.. The generosity of  Mrs. Hoaglin and her family is much appreciated.   In Memory of Donna Jean Hoaglin     February 05, 1922 - May 04, 2017 See photo at  http://www.murphyfuneralandmonuments.com/images/HoagDonna.jpg Leave a message | View Messages Donna Jean Nicholson Hoaglin, 95, of Mt. Pleasant passed away on Thursday, May 4, 2017, at Park Place Elder Living Center in Mt. Pleasant. Funeral services will be held on Sunday, May 7, 2017, at 2:30 p.m. at the First Presbyterian Church in Mt. Pleasant with Rev. Trey Hegar officiating. Burial will follow in the Hillsboro Cemetery. Friends may call after 1:00 p.m. on Saturday at the Murphy Funeral Home in Mt. Pleasant where the family will be present from 5:00 to 7:00 p.m. The family will also receive friends on Sunday at the church beginning at 1:00 p.m. until the service time. Memorials may be directed to the HCI Care Services, First Presbyterian Church or to the Salem Crew Public Library in her memory. Donna was born on February 5, 1922, at home near Salem, Iowa, the daughter of Russell Paul and Florence Leila Ross Nicholson. She was united in marriage to Kenneth L. Remick on November 10, 1940 in Mt. Pleasant. They later divorced. On January 17, 1950, she was united in marriage to William M. Hoaglin in Keokuk, he preceded her in death on May 30, 1997, at the age of 100. Growing up on a farm in rural Salem, Donna attended the Salem Country Schools and graduated from Salem High School in 1939 at the age of 17. She worked as a bookkeeper for several area businesses including Hoaglin’s Department Store. Together, she and her husband established the William M. and Donna J. Hoaglin Foundation. Donna served as the vice-president of the Foundation during her husband’s tenure as president and then as president until her death. She and her husband were involved in agriculture, traveled, and were members of the Country Club on the River. She was a member of the First Presbyterian Church of Mt. Pleasant where she taught Sunday School, served in the Presbyterian Women’s Association, and was named one of the first women elders. Donna was a member of numerous organizations including Farm Bureau, the State Historical Society of Iowa, Questers, Mt. Pleasant Women’s Club, Henry County Genealogical Society, and the Henry County Health Center Auxiliary. Donna was named a 50-year member of both PEO Chapter Original A and the National TTT Society. Donna enjoyed genealogy, playing bridge, and reading her Bible. She also enjoyed gardening, cooking, and attending music and sporting events of her grandchildren and great-grandchildren. Donna is survived by her grandchildren, great-grandchildren and great-great grandchild: Grandson Joseph Remick and his wife Carol of rural Hillsboro, and their children: Spenser Remick and his wife Amber of Oskaloosa, Morgan Fry and her husband Benjamin, of New London; and Carson Remick of Pella; Grandson Larry Remick and his wife Lisa of rural Hillsboro, and their children: Rachael Sathoff, and her husband Jordan, along with their infant son, Jadon of rural Hillsboro; and Elliott Remick of Mt. Pleasant; Granddaughter Jeanna Yochum and her husband Tom of rural Hillsboro, and their children: Melia Smith of Kennesaw, Georgia; Mackenzie Yochum of Elwood, Iowa; and Casey Yochum of rural Hillsboro; and her daughter-in-law Judith of Washington. Donna was preceded in death by her parents; her son Russell K. Remick; her brother Ross Nicholson in infancy.