With ice beginning to form on area ponds and waterways in Rice County, it is imperative that extreme restraint and caution be exercised. Currently there is no safe ice in Rice County. Every year tragedy strikes somewhere when persons prematurely venture out onto frozen lakes and ponds or fail to follow warnings. Inquisitive young children are especially vulnerable. When your child is near the ice, you should be near your child. Although there is no such thing as 100 percent safe ice, the following are guidelines for new clear ice to lessen your chance of a breakthrough. 4" is the minimum …