Life jacket loaner board added to Chau-Ram Park

Chau Ram Park near Westminster is the third Oconee County location to offer a life jacket loaner program for park visitors. Phil Shirley, county PRT director, says, “The addition of the loaner kiosk brings awareness to those entering the water to take one if they don’t have one to use. We have 10-15 life jackets available at each location and there are days when the loaner boards are completely empty during the day and back full each evening.” A grant from the Keese Foundation purchased the materials and staff from the Oconee County facilities department constructed and installed the kiosk. The life jacket loaner program began when Oakway native Craig Keese lost his son and grandson in a drowning accident four years ago in a Missouri lake.