Labor Day 2012: Celebrated by land, air and water in Chippewa Valley

By: Joe Nelson - Email

Updated: Mon 7:54 PM, Sep 03, 2012

CHIPPEWA FALLS, Wisc. (WEAU) - Many found ways to enjoy their day off for Labor Day before going back to school or work Tuesday in the Chippewa Valley.

David Grunst, a senior at the University of Minnesota Duluth, spent the day grilling, boating and playing games with his family at Lake Wissota State Park in Chippewa Falls, before moving back Monday night and starting his last semester of college Tuesday.

"I know what's in store for me for the semester, so it's nice to have one last time before the start of the school year," Grunst, a biology major, said.

With his sons going back to school Tuesday, Jeff Pascal of Eau Claire continued his family's tradition of camping at the park every Memorial and Labor Day weekend.

"Now they're gone a good part of the day and with us working, we're gone our share of the day, so it's one last time to spend the day together and hang out," Pascal said.

Boaters zipped through the lake one last time.

"Me and my wife and baby all got the day off, so we definitely take our opportunity to get out and have some fun," Chris Davis of Chippewa Falls said on his boat with friends and family.

While new divers, like Owen-Withee special education teacher Heidi Bower glided through the air at Skydive Wissota, for their first time, before going back to school.

"One of the things on my bucket list was to skydive and today's my birthday, so it's the end of summer and I’m gonna do it," Bower said.

"It was a rush, you didn't have time to think about it. And it was well worth it," she said.

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