Tomah Wisconsin GPAA Chapter – May 2020

Welcome

Welcome to the 2020 GOLD FEVER Newsletter.  Another year, another gold prospecting opportunity.  If you have not tried to find gold, you need to give it a try.  Let us know if you need help to get started, there are many people with experience that the help you.

 Do not forget the Newsletter and pictures can always be found at:

President’s Message

 I have been panning in my back yard about one day a week lately. I have dirt that I bought last year yet, and don't really like to pan in my basement in the winter thou I did do that twice.

 We went on strike where I work for 3 days, company wants us to work 3 Saturdays a month now and they didn't change but most of the workers chickened out and accepted it on the third time around. It is a bad time to be on strike with so many people out of work do to the Covid 19 virus. I will either have to work and then rush down to do a meeting or schedule a vacation on Friday or Monday of that week to get Saturday off. 

  This is all I can think of at this time!

 I hope everyone stays safe

Mike Fait President Tomah Chapter GPAA

Upcoming Events

Planned Outings:

-       Cancelled May 1-2, 2020 - Central Wisconsin Rock and gem show Marshfield

-       Cancelled May 16, 2020 - Tomah Club Meeting

-       Cancelled May 16-17, 2020 - GPAA gold show Milwaukee Wisconsin at the state park fairgrounds

-       June 5, 2020 -  Lacrosse rock and gem show

-       June 5,6,7, 2020 -  Black Hill south Dakota outing (Wausau Chapter)

-       June 26,27,28, 2020 - Tomah chapter outing to Nugget Lake

-       July 17,18,19, 2020 - Wausau outing to Snyder  county Park

-       Cancelled July 24,25,26,2020 - Midstate metal detectors club 24th annual open hunt Nekoosa

-       Aug 25-30, 2020 - GPAA diggers party in Athens Michigan Wausau/ Tomah

-       Sept 18,19,20, 2020 - Wausau outing to Nugget Lake - this is Tomah’s  weekend so we will join them       (individual dig  for  yourself)

-       somewhere this summer we will try and squeeze in a metal detecting outing

Tomah Club Meeting - Town of LaGrange Town Hall. 22731 Flint Ave. Tomah WI. 54660 - 1.8 miles west of the 12/21 Hwy intersection in Tomah. – At 1:00 pm on the following dates, speakers will be announced as they are scheduled:

Tomah Wisconsin GPAA Chapter Minutes

March/April, 2020

Club Business:                                                                                                                                                              

Tomah Wisconsin GPAA Chapter – has cancelled the March, April, and May meetings because of the coronavirus 19.

 After talking with Richard Niemyjski it was determined that it is still too early to get together even for a metal detecting hunt where we would not be very close together.

We want everyone to be safe.

That being said The Wausau outing to South Dakota's Husker claim is still on for June 5th,6th,7th. I have a room that I already payed for so I'm still planning to go. South Dakota does not have a stay at home order so the restaurants should be open.

 Midstate metal Detectors have canceled their state hunt for 2020. They hope to see everyone back in 2021.

  Bering Sea gold is returning to the discovery channel on May 15, it hasn't been on in a long time!

 I also started watching Aussie Gold on the discovery channel. There are some of the same prospectors that Parker met on his travels. It comes on after 10.00 on Friday nights, looks like I missed a few episodes as the last one said it was from season 2.

Nugget Lake County Park was closed for a while. The web site now says it is open in LIMITED CAPACITY. It is to remain open as long as social distancing and other safety measures are being met.  There are to be no non-family group activities-Playgrounds-picnic shelters-campgrounds (no Reservations accepted( I don't know what this means for me I have already reserved a site for June)

No cabins- no boat/canoe/kayak rentals. Park entrance fees are still required and enforcement is taking place. All fees are to be paid at the self-registration station near the park office, please make sure you have correct change ($5 daily/$30 annual) as staff will not be providing change or be able to take credit cards

THE PARK OFFICE WILL REMAIN CLOSED TO THE PUBLIC!

 I hope things change by June 26 but the way things are going I’m not betting on it!

Gold Price on 04/26/2020 was $1,729.50              Silver Price on 04/26/2020 was $15.27

Respectfully submitted by Diane North – Newsletter Editor

Wausau Prospectors Outing to the GPAA Claims in the Black Hills of South Dakota

June 5^th, 6^th, & 7^th 2020

There are no outdoor toilets at the claims so provide your own. Bring your own meals and beverages and clean up after yourself. Do not cut into the banks while Prospecting and fill in your holes. Take out your trash when you leave. This Outing is to provide a common area for the club to meet and enjoy prospecting together. During your trip plan on a stop at the town of Wall South Dakota. The National Grassland Visitor Center is located in Wall. There you can get information on rock & mineral hunting in the Buffalo Gap National Grassland. Be sure to check out the towns of Deadwood, Lead, and the National Monument Mount Rushmore too.

On Friday we’ll meet at the Husker #1 claim at 9 a.m. local time. Directions to Husker #1: Located 5 ½ Miles west of Sturgis on HWY 14A and 5 ½ miles east of Deadwood on 14A. Going west on 14A you will turn off to your left just past the US Forest Service sign (Black Hills National Forest). Coming East from Deadwood there is no sign so you should watch you odometer. The claim is about 800 feet down the road to the first creek crossing (Sign is in tree above the creek and to the left). Other GPAA claims in the Black Hills area are Migg 1 to 4, Eagle Eye  #1, and Mary Ann. You must be a GPAA/LDMA member or with a GPAA/LDMA member (as a guest) to use those claims.

Do not prospect on the claims belonging to the Black Hills Prospecting Club. If caught prospecting on their claims you will be arrested for mineral trespass! You can join the Black Hills Prospecting Club for a $150.00 one-time fee and then a renewal fee of $50.00 per year. This will give you access to a lot more claims.

Most of the Club members will be staying at the Days End Campground and RV Park in Sturgis South Dakota. There are also Cabins and Tent sites available at the campground.  The campground offers ample facilities and amenities. There are nearby motels too.

The Days End Campground and RV Park

2501 Avalanche Road

Sturgis, SD  57785    PH: 605-347-2331

Contact person is Kurt Bublitz at 715-340-2831.

Officers – elected for 2020.

President – Michael Fait (mgfait@charter.net) 715-384-9265   (Cell phone to be used only on meeting days = 715-305-8319)

Vice-President – Gary Morrison 715-316-2555

Secretary – Jeanne Morrison 715-316-2555

Newsletter Editor - Diane North (dbnorth@centurytel.net) 608-635-7031

Treasure – Gayle Fait (mgfait@charter.net) 715-384-9265

Outing Chairman – Jeff Hastings (monkeyhast@frontier.net)  (608) 637-3097

Claims Director – Richard Niemyjski (richnski@frontiernet.net) 608-637-3295

State Director – Mick Whalen mj-whalen@hotmail.com  715-612-2800

APPROVED DEALERS:

Deer field Detectors.  Dealer for Whites, Fisher, Garrett, Minelab, Bounty Hunter, Detector Pro Detector & Pinpointers, Sunray Detector Accessories, & many misc. detecting accessories.  Deerfield Detectors, N3091 CTY Rd. B, Hancock, WI 54943 (715) 572-1845 or e-mail stmill@uniontel.net or http://www.deerfielddetectors.com/

Wisconsin Area Clubs

The Kettle Moraine Prospectors of Wisconsin – We still meet in the Community Center in Plymouth, Wi.  on the second Saturday of the month, providing the church doesn't have something else on their schedule .- 1:00 PM Meetings  Contact: Chuck Riel – 414-328-3194 or visit wisgold.org/index.html

Midstate Metal Detecting Club – meets every 3^rd Wednesday at 7:00 pm at Shooters Bar and Restaurant at the intersection of Hwy 39 and 54, next to the Shell Station.  Contact: Steve Miller 715-572-1845

Wausau Prospectors – meets the 1^st Saturday of the month at 11:00 am at the Village Town Hall in Brokaw Wisconsin. Address is: 218 2^nd St., Brokaw, WI. Take US 51 north of Wausau and take exit 197. Then go east on county road WW. At the 4 way stop in Brokaw take a right. You are there (just past the Credit Union).  Contact:  Kurt Bublitz 715-340-2831 or e-mail lizzy101@charter.net

Wisconsin Michigan Prospectors.GPAA Chapter – holds their meetings on the 3^rd Saturday of every month at 11:00 am, at meeting location for the next few months at Newinghams Supper Club at 722 Main St. Wausaukee, WI 54177. Contact Ron Smith.  

MAY THERE BE GOLD IN EVERY PAN !!!!