How to start an urban myth

A fun series of investigations into local Menomonie myths would be great, any and all of them.  It's already something the Mayor of Menomonie has done with Wolske Bay, you know, the originating location of all the algae in the world according to his "garage-logic" lake "fixing" schemes.

But we know better.   We know Wolske Bay is just a really cool creation that came to be back when big 1950's civic/ business leaders of Menomonie pushed for a bigger, deeper lake that resulted in the overdue replacement of the wood dam backing up the Red Cedar River at an increased head level.  (And the "algae" that  appeared here on Lake Menomin before was still there after.)

The neighboring park, Lakeside Park, site of the former waste water lagoon for Lange Canning Co. was built before the lake level was raised, and it did contain high-nutrient waste.  The area was low and some preparation barrier for increased river height was made.  

In fact, the smaller area closer to the roadway has always been absolutely boggling.  Well, actually, here's some  pictures from March 21, 2020.   Where the water from springs to the north is crystal clear, the lake water crystal clear, there is this:

Now, the condition of the water in this area is always cloudy but the aquatic vegetation that separates it from the bay at the southern tip of Lakeside park seems to always filter out whatever is causing the clarity of the water in this somewhat separated pond.   The T.M.L.I.A. does not seem interested in this pond nor does the Mayor of Menomonie.   I suppose, it doesn't really have a name, it can't get a scapegoated public image from the political podium of city hall.  No one is down there making up solutions or getting neighborhood petitions for the city to do anything about this little bay.  No "look at me" option for the big civic and business leaders downtown to get the press for.




Maybe now there will be a something to it.   The urban myth of lead paint under Menomonie's lakeside park may start now:



You can see how good the "telephone" game really is at relaying information on the internet and that your real memory is maybe not as good as you think it is.  To credit, there may be Lakeside Aluminum or Globe Iron Works waste, for instance, that had something going on that did get buried, but they located more were to the south,  to give some credit to the "paint plant" pollution angle.  Even without confirming the information about the wastewater in the settling lagoon, the lead paint image over the park "for the kids" is a rumor that can spread into other interesting stories from this point on.

And it will lead to further Lake Menomin pollution myths, such as the goose poop being the cause of it all. 
(No, seriously, talk to people when you're out and about starting in June and you will find someone who will blame ALL the green colorization of the lake on goose poop near the shores of the lake.)

No one talks about the massive hog pen near here that was around before any of this, though, do they?



We saw that with the "Kentucky Fried Chicken Siren" internet joke post that led to genuine rumors of a Kentucky Fried Chicken franchise coming to Menomonie.
(Since edited to highlight this was a joke.)


The particular funny part is the same joker is also complaining about the lake causing a lack of tourism.   But maybe the complaining about the lack of tourism because of the lake is also a joke? 
"Peter Gruetzmacher, owner of the Silver Dollar and Jake’s Supper Club, said there are plenty of reason tourists should want to visit Menomonie, but tourists are turned off later in the summer when the lake turns green."
 Now, we know the "turned off" later in the summer reason but it is too bad the "plenty of reason tourists" should want to visit Menomonie were never listed.