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Life Jacket Closets at Douglas County Beaches

Posted: 07/22/2024

Author: Julie Anderson

Category: Departments, Parks & Trails

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Moms fix problems. They just do.

Which is why, when Nicole Ness Botzet, a mom, asked Douglas County to allow her life jacket project to move forward at the county beaches, the county said yes.

“We know properly fitted, quality life jackets save lives,” said Park Superintendent Brad Bonk. “When it’s hot, the beaches in Douglas County are packed. And we know many of those enjoying the sun, sand and water, are children. We want them to be as safe as possible.”

Bonk and Botzet met a couple of years ago. He learned her story which is a tough one.

Botzet’s best-friend-to-all daughter Kortni Anne Botzet passed on May 2, 2010, after a hot tub accident. She was just 6 ½ years old and a kindergartener at Carlos Elementary School. Her mom says she loved to sing, dance, play with her friends and her little brothers. “She was the leader of the pack at our house. The boys always followed along with what she was doing.”

Kortni’s enthusiasm for life, is now glowing brightly in outdoor closets bearing her name.

“It’s been a long time coming,” Botzet said.

It is a project that has placed six wooden structures with children’s life jackets at five county beaches and Latoka Beach which is owned by La Grand Township. They’re called Kortni’s Klosets. The idea is parents who need a life jacket will use one and return it that same day or when it’s no longer suitable for their child. “When people send me a picture and say look, someone’s using your life jackets, that does fill my heart, to know we’re making a difference, not that we put these up and we did that. We put these up and they’re making a difference,” Botzet said.

While she’s the driving force behind the project, Botzet wants to thank everyone who has helped. Especially her brother who’s a contractor and owns Leslie Ness Construction. He and his crew built the closets with discounted supplies from Hilltop Lumber. The Carlos Lions and the Norwex Foundation were also platinum sponsors in the closet project. Friends helped her paint the structures and a friend created iron-on labels with Kortni’s PATH for each newly donated jacket. She said, “So many others contributed life jackets and financial support. This project would not have been possible without all of you!”

Kortni’s PATH is a 501c 3 organization which Botzet originally created to increase awareness to water safety, specifically spa and hot tubs. “When we first started our organization, we started with an annual fundraiser. It was a 5K run and silent auction. We used these events to talk about water safety and used the funds to support scholarships for all of Kortni’s kindergarten classmates when they graduated from high school.”

She said the events were gratifying, but it didn’t end there.

 “God just kept placing life jackets on my heart, so we partnered with Central Marine in Carlos, and we did a life jacket give away. It was wonderful, but it broke my heart to see people still in line that didn’t get the life jackets. We had purchased one hundred and they ran out.”

When her mom, who hardly ever goes on Facebook, saw her daughter had liked a post on life jacket closets in Alaska, she says she knew her God moment had arrived. “She said, are you going to do that?”

Grandmas fix problems too.

The answer to her mom’s question was yes. Kortni’s Klosets are now located at Brophy Park Beach, Chippewa Park Beach, Latoka Beach, Le Homme Dieu Beach, Rotary Beach and Pilgrim Point Park. They have one more to be placed at Elk Lake Beach in Hoffman.

Botzet routinely checks that all the new, donated life jackets meet Coast Guard and certification standards. Additional donations of good quality children’s life jackets are welcome and can be placed directly in Kortni’s Klosets. The ask is anything donated be something a parent would use on their own child. Donations of cash are also welcome via Venmo @KortnisPATH or sent to Kortni's PATH PO Box 13, Carlos, MN 56319

Life jackets should be properly fitted. Experts also remind parents they do not replace actively watching a child whenever they are in or near water. Drowning is most often silent.  Botzet recommends reviewing water and life jacket safety here https://kortnispath.wixsite.com/kortni/life-jacket-information and other reliable government websites and she shared how to become a Water Watch Dog. Learn more here https://abbeyshope.org/become-a-water-watchdog/

Botzet says Kortni continues to be a part of their family. They miss her every day.  Her life jacket closets carry more than flotation devices, they carry a message.

“Live like Kortni,” she says. “Be a friend to everyone. Make a difference in people’s lives around you. Why wouldn’t you want everyone around you to smile?”

 

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