#Minocqua Area Chamber of Commerce

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U.P. Breaking News Bulletin – 3-9-18 – 3 a.m. ET – 

Popular Minocqua, WI civic leader was victim of that accident involving his Caterpillar skid steer that plummeted through the ice on a Gogebic County Lake while he was snowplowing for a barge with a crane on its deck

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By Greg Peterson U.P. Breaking News Owner, News Director 906-273-2433

(Watersmeet Township, MI) – A memorial service will be held Wednesday for a popular Minocqua, WI man and civic leader who was killed in that bizarre Wednesday accident when a Caterpillar skid Steer that he was driving to plow snow for a barge on a lake in Gogebic County, MI

Memorial planned for Tom Handrick, age 55 of Minocqua, WI

55-year-old Tom Handrick of Minocqua died when his heavy machine floundered and sank in broken ice next to the barge about 10:30 a.m. on Wednesday, March 7, 2018 in Watersmeet Township.

The barge had a large heavy duty crane on its deck – sometimes called a derrick in larger projects. The crane had a big sign on its front that states “SAFETY!”

Handrick was the longtime owner of Lakeland Landscaping and a member of the local Lions Club and on the Minocqua Area Chamber of Commerce board of directors.

Divers and cold-water rescue officials recovered Handrick’s body about an hour after the freak accident and he was transported by ambulance to the Eagle River Memorial Hospital (Scroll down to read Mr. Handrick’s obituary notice).

Officials have not released who owns the barge or crane, and what it was doing on Thousand Island Lake. Numerous officials with the Lac Vieux Desert Tribal Police were on the scene.

The freak accident involved a barge, a crane, and a heavy equipment Skid Steer. Officials have not said whether any Michigan Regulatory Agencies will be investigating the crash. It is not known if it is necessary for officials to notify the Michigan Occupation Safety and Health Administration (MIOSHA).

Previous stories:

https://upperpeninsulabreakingnews.wordpress.com/2018/03/07/near-vacationland-resort-in-gogebic-county-cisco-chain-of-lakes-divers-and-an-ice-water-rescue-team-are-among-those-being-request-by-police-and-fire-officials-at-the-scene-of-a-man-whose-bobcat-broke

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/tom.handrick

Here is a 2009 OSHA safety report on derricks/barges with cranes on the deck: https://www.osha.gov/Publications/3358deck-barge-safety.pdf

2015 rwport on construction safety ftrom MIOSHA: http://www.michigan.gov/documents/lara/lara_miosha_CS_10_strike_bold_3_16_517763_7.pdf

Info about lake: http://www.fishweb.com/maps/gogebic/thousand_island_lake/north_channel/index.html https://www.michigan.gov/documents/dnr/93-10_463566_7.pdf ——- Tom Handrick was a very well-liked businessman who is life is being remember and celebrated by a large number of friends on the funeral home memorial page: http://www.nimsgernfuneral.com/obituaries/Tom-Handrick?obId=2989343#/celebrationWall

Funeral notice from the Nimsgern Funeral Home in Woodruff, WI:

Tom Handrick, age 55 of Minocqua, WI died unexpectedly on Wednesday, March 7th.

A memorial gathering for Tom will be held on Wednesday, March 14th from 3:00 to 9:00 PM with a Time for Sharing at 7:00 PM at the Nimsgern Funeral Home Chapel.

Please check back for complete obituary. http://www.nimsgernfuneral.com/obituaries/Tom-Handrick?obId=2989343#/obituaryInfo http://www.nimsgernfuneral.com

Tom Handrick and the woman he loves

Tom Handrick marriage/vows ceremony – Photo on Facebook on Dec. 25, 2017

Memorial to Tom Handrick, age 55 of Minocqua, WI

Memorial to Tom Handrick, age 55 of Minocqua, WI

Memorial to Tom Handrick, age 55 of Minocqua, WI

Memorial to Tom Handrick, age 55 of Minocqua, WI

Memorial to Tom Handrick, age 55 of Minocqua, WI

  Watersmeet Township Fatal Freak Accident Update: Memorial service set for Wednesday for popular Minocqua, WI businessman and civic leader killed in that freak accident on Thousand Island Lake in Gogebic County U.P. Breaking News Bulletin – 3-9-18 – 3 a.m. ET –  Popular Minocqua, WI civic leader was victim of that accident involving his Caterpillar skid steer that plummeted through the ice on a Gogebic County Lake while he was snowplowing for a barge with a crane on its deck…