MARQUETTE, Mich. (WZMQ) – It’s the first big holiday weekend of the season, with increased foot traffic and out of town visitors, The Marquette County Sheriff’s Office wants to remind people to take is slow and drive defensively. Dan Willey, The Undersheriff in Marquette County, says patrols are increased for the weekend.
“A lot of people are coming into the area to enjoy the outdoors here and visit family,” Undersheriff Willey says, “We’re just hoping that everybody stays safe and that we have a good weekend without any crashes.”
The Undersheriff also gave a reminder for people to put their phones down before driving, and if your drinking, to make sure you have a designated driver.
This Saturday will also be the first for lifeguards in the city of Marquette. With temperatures on the rise, The City’s Head Lifeguard, Ryan Leach, says they’re expecting a busy first weekend on the beaches.
“We’ve been setting up the beaches for the past couple weeks,” Leach Explained, “Making sure there are buoys out there, making sure the lifeguard stands are up, making sure those first aid kits are set and the AEDs are prepared.”
Leach says the city is short on life guards this summer. With around 10 lifeguards to start off, McCarty’s cove will be the only city beach staffed for the long weekend.
Leach says their main concern is always to keep an eye on rip currents.
“Those rip currents are dangerous,” Leach says, “luckily there are none too close to the shore at the moment but it’s just always good to be cautious of where you are and how far out you are, and if you are caught in one, just, how to get out of one.”
The national weather service says trying to swim against a rip current will only use up your energy, if you’re caught in a current, swim along the shoreline until you escape its pull, and lastly, to swim supervised. Under sheriff willey gave a reminder to be cautious while having fun this memorial day weekend.
