The Bellaire Review

The day of the Chain ‘O Lakes Sportsman’s Club first shoot.

Top:(from left) Stan Kimmel, Brian Rathke, Brian Kroll, Richard Hoadley, John Thumm, Doug Fowler and in front are Katie Rathke and Maggie Rathke.

New Sportsman's Club Formed
Shooting range located near Mancelona

By Kris School

April 1 marked an important day for several area sportsmen. It was the day the Chain O’ Lakes Sportsman’s Club held its very first shoot at its own home, located on Peterson Road in Mancelona.

Brian Kroll is the founding chairman and spokesman of the new club, which he pointed out, “is not a relocation or reincarnation” of the Elk Rapids Sportsman’s Club.

Kroll said he started looking for property about a year ago and eventually picked the current site not only for its location, which is “well-served by thoroughfares, including M-88 and US-131,” but also because the “environment is conducive to a shooting range.”

“I think this is the best, highest use for the property,” he said, adding that a group of people contributed to the purchase of what was a gravel and sand pit, which formerly belonged to Reith-Reilly of Goshen, Indiana. “There is a lot of sand and gravel that can be used for berms. It’s perfectly suited for a shooting range.”

The Chain O’ Lakes club is situated on 80 acres and will be able to offer a variety of shooting sports, such as sporting clays, “Cowboy Action,” long-range shooting, handgun and shooting events, including hunter’s safety.
“This is an effort to answer the unmet needs of sportsmen and -women in Antrim and Kalkaska counties,” he added.

Kroll indicated that the club’s next step is to complete a site development plan. The club is currently members-only, and will be offering new memberships in the near future.

In addition to Kroll, the club’s other officeholders include vice chairman, Brian Rathke of Bellaire; secretary, Douglas Fowler of Rapid City; treasurer, John Thumm of Clam Lake; and membership director, Richard Hoadley of Kewadin. Other founding members include: Daniel Bennett, Thomas Caldwell, Douglas Dawson, David Gill, Stan Kimmel, David Munroe, Henry VanLooy, Alwyn Burnett, William Clark, Bruce Dickinson, Thomas Gremel, Eldon McPherson, James Racey and Richard Young.