A Breakthrough

U.S. Coast Guard pollution responders, working in cooperation with the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources, were monitoring the salvage of a 70,000-pound excavator that broke through lake ice about four miles north of Sister Bay and about 100 feet offshore. The Komatsu excavator was being operated by contractor Mike Cole of Iron Works Construction when it broke through the ice on Feb. 25. The excavator was pulled from the ice on March 5, at which time it was determined it had not leaked the 25 to 30 gallons of diesel fuel in its tank.