Serving Gogebic, Iron and Ontonagon Counties
Serving Gogebic, Iron and Ontonagon Counties
YOUNGSTERS ATTENDING an off-road vehicle safety course Saturday at Gogebic Community College hold emergency safety kits they received from Aspirus Grand View Hospital. From left are, first row - Samantha Hatfield, Nick Niemi, Dane Perttunen, Tia Ramsey, Natalee Fisk, Alyssa Lewis, Katie Wiemeri, Maddie Vaughn, Hunter Fisk, Michael Tassin; second row - Brandon Lyons, Kim Kolesar, Trent Perlich, Ally Yon, Michael Sibley, Danielle Traczyk, Taedon Niemi, Keira Niemi, Kylee Maki, Marissa Massi, Allison LaRock, Ross Kolesar and David Sim.
By RALPH ANSAMI
Ironwood - Nineteen youngsters spent Saturday learning off-road vehicle safety at Gogebic Community College.
The eight-hour class was taught by certified instructors Ross and Kim Kolesar, of Ironwood, members of the Western Upper Peninsula Trail Association. They were assisted by Gogebic County Sheriff's Department deputy Brandon Lyons.
David Sim, marketing director for Aspirus Grand View Hospital, stopped by in the morning to drop off first aid safety kits for the youngsters.
"A first aid kit should be an essential tool for every rider and we appreciate that we can help give our new riders a good start," Sim said.
The children were aged from 9 to 15, with one attendee coming from Illinois and the rest local participants.
Ross Kolesar said the safety certificates they received will be good for other states, as well.
All ORV operators under 16 are required to possess valid safety training certificate.
With permits from the training session, at age 12 the youngsters can ride the machines in their yards, at 14 on trails with adults and at 16 alone.
The full-day ORV sessions are offered in the spring and fall.
The Kolesars said they were trained to teach the safety classes at Roscommon in a three-day course and they'd like more volunteers from the Ironwood area to attend the next training session in Escanaba.
Students learn riding techniques, how to conduct pre-ride safety inspections, risks, proper use of safety gear and laws.
They also learn trail etiquette and how important it is to protect the environment.
Cloverland Motor Sports has partnered in the program. "Cloverland has been an active partner from the beginning and offers free lunch to the kids who attend the class," Kim Kolesar said.
"We thank our members and sponsors for helping us to provide the course free of charge," Ross Kolesar said.
People who are interested in becoming members or sponsors of WUPTA can email [email protected].
The Michigan Department of Natural Resources is offering a free youth safety education instructor course on May 20-22 at the Escanaba State Fairgrounds; call 517-284-6055 for more information.
