~~~~~~ RiverBill's Archives~~~~~~
October 2008

 

A WEBSITE FOR THE  BOATING COMMUNITY 

OF THE 

MISSISSIPPI, ILLINOIS AND MISSOURI RIVERS

 

Friday

 

October 31.. 2008

Over 1.9 Million Visitors Strong !

 

HAPPY HALLOWEEN !

 

 Picture of the Day

Good-Bye Delta Queen

Photo By RiverBill

 

Photo By RiveBill

 

Photo by Kathy & Dave Skarstad
Villas of Winneberg, Golden Eagle, IL

 

Photo By Capt'n Carl Seidler

Grafton Harbor

 

Photo ByTimothy Miller

Harbor Point Yacht Club

 

Photo By Mary Beth Tiemann

Eagles Landing Marina

 

Photo By Capt'n Greg Sadowski

Woodland Marina

 

Photo By Capt'n Greg Sadowski

Woodland Marina

 

   click on pic to enlarge

Good-bye Delta Queen

The Delta Queen is making its final voyage. It has nothing to do with her age or her condition. It is about a law passed by Congress. Right now there is a battle going on with a Congressman who wants to sink her and many who wants to keep her a float.

To see a live video about this controversial issue, click here on myfoxstl.com

 

Click here to visit Classic Marine's website             Click here to e-mail Michelle

 

 Yesteryears Picture of the Day

 

   

 

Click on pic to enlarge

 

 

Yester Year's River Pictures of the Day 2007-----  was sent in y Capt'n from John Payne.  He snapped a shot of the Mississippi Queen heading into a full moon Saturday night as it was passing Kinder's Restaurant.  

 

Hi Bill, 

Here is a picture of the Mississippi Queen. It is just West of Kinder's. (Saturday night)

 

John Payne

   

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Navigation Notices ......

 

 

To: ALL MARINERS
From: Coast Guard Upper Miss
Date: 10/29/08
Subject: Safety Advisory for Missouri River (BNM NR 0559-08)
NAVNOTICE # 1461

SECTOR UPPER MISSISSIPPI RIVER ISSUES THE FOLLOWING SAFETY ADVISORY:
NAVIGATION FLOW SUPPORT FOR THE MISSOURI RIVER FROM THE MAIN STEM
RESERVOIR SYSTEM TO THE MOUTH WILL END ON 31 OCT 08, AND WILL RESUME
ON 01 APR 09.
 

 

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Check the CG/COE Hot Topics website for most current memos

       

Daylight Savings Time Ends......... Daylight saving time is observed from the second Sunday in March until the first Sunday in November.....

Don't forget to set your boat clock back one hour !

 

  Click here for more info.

A posting  from 27 Aug 2006

 

August 1979 in River History ------  
   

President Jimmy Carter and his family cruised the Mississippi River aboard the sternwheeler Delta Queen from St. Paul, Minnesota to St. Louis, Missouri.  The Delta Queen and the President were escorted by U.S. Coast Guard and Auxiliary vessels. 

 

From the US Army Corps of Engineers website

Godspeed, Delta Queen ------  
   

Click here to watch a Delta Queen Video and listen to Dan Landau's song "Godspeed, Delta Queen" ........the theme song for the efforts to save the Delta Queen.

 

An e-mail posting  from 14 Sept 2006

 

Delta Queen ...A Real American Treasure------  We received an e-mail with some links to photographs and interesting facts about the delta Queen from Mike Vessell, who hails out of Port Charles Harbor in the house boat...... “Pointe of View”.

 

Mike wrote:

 

Bill,

 

Isn’t the Delta Queen a real American treasure!

 

My wife Cathi and I cruised past the Delta Queen in our house boat, “Pointe of View” near Enterprise Island on Sunday.

 

I hadn’t seen the Delta Queen close up like that since growing up in Hannibal, MO in the late 70’s.  One thing that caught my eye was that the smoke stack looked different that what I remembered.  I think it’s been re-done since then.

 

Attached are links to a couple of pictures your readers may enjoy.  One is of the Delta Queen when she was delivering troops in WWII (from cincinnati.com);  the other is a recent photo of her smoke stack fully retracted (cincinnati.com) 

 

Also enclosed is a web site link to the National Park Service http://www.cr.nps.gov/MARITIME/nhl/delta.htm for their historical landmark info on the Delta Queen.  Excellent reading.

 

Enjoy !

 

Mike Vessell

Port Charles Harbor

 

River Halloween Parties.........

 

The Big Muddy Restaurant

     Friday, Oct 31.....Music by Generation Gap.....click here

Longshot Saloon @ My River Home

     Friday, Oct 31.....Pig Roast, Live Music,

                                  Kids Hay Ride 5-7PM, Adult Nite Time Hay Rides

Oasis Bar and Grill

     Saturday, Nov 1......Music by Park Road

Sundowners

     Saturday, Nov 1..... Music by Rail.....click here

A Little Bit Of River History...........

On November 1, 1855, at 8:30 am, there were hundreds of passengers on a 14 car passenger train. It was the first new Pacific Line Railroad in Jefferson City. There were 30 people who died that day after the bridge over the Gasconade River collapsed. One of the passengers had written his diary that his wife begged him not to go that day. She felt like they were disobeying the Sabbath Day. However, he went anyway, along with a few well known people in St. Louis, including the Mayor at that time.

To read some more interesting facts about that train wreck, click here in the Suburban Journals

The Big Muddy  ...

Click here for The Big Muddy October Event & Dinner Special Calendar

 

Halloween Party....Friday, Oct 31st..       Click here

 

RiverBills Upcoming Events........

 

 We have added a boatload of upcoming boat shows to RiverBills Upcoming Event Page.

 

Click here and check them out !       

River News From Afar......Quincy, IL

     Homemade Raft Stuck on Quinsissippi Island.....

Two women, who started a Mississippi River float trip in Minnesota last June in a homemade raft, got stuck on Quinsissippi Island last Monday. The situation nearly turned into a disaster, but the  stranded travelers called a nearby restaurant, who in turn called the fire department.  A rescue boat went out and towed the raft off the island.

The women said that their raft had been stuck in the past and they were always able to get it free. They have a small engine and they would get out and push, but the cold choppy water made that impossible on Monday.

Now they are free to continue their journey down the Mississippi to New Orleans.

Click here to read this news story on Quincy's WGEM
 

Centennial Celebration at Fort Massac State park on Ohio River.......

 

 

 

         Illinois Department of Natural Resources                             
For Immediate Release

October 30, 2008

Historic Fort Massac to Host Centennial Celebration
 


Event to Commemorate 100th Anniversary of Dedication as Illinois’ First State Park



METROPOLIS, IL – The 100th anniversary of the dedication of Fort Massac State Park as Illinois’ first state park will be commemorated with a centennial celebration at the park on Saturday, November 1. The park was formally dedicated as Illinois’ first state park on November 5, 1908.

“The Illinois Department of Natural Resources is pleased to host this celebration, and we thank the Friends of Fort Massac, the National Society of the Daughters of the American Revolution, local and regional members of the DAR, the City of Metropolis, and our site staff for planning a wonderful event,” said IDNR Acting Director Sam Flood. “Millions of visitors during the past 100 years have made Fort Massac a destination to learn about and experience a sample of what life was like on the banks of the Ohio River in days gone by.”

The November 1 celebration will include a parade beginning at the park entrance at 10 a.m., followed by a ceremony at 11 a.m. The ceremony will include a rededication of the George Rogers Clark statue overlooking the Ohio River at the park. Colonel Clark led his “Long Knives” regiment from Kentucky in 1778 to help capture the Illinois Territory for the American cause during the Revolutionary War.

A monument honoring George Rogers Clark was dedicated at Fort Massac in 1908, while the statue of Clark was erected there in 1932. Both were made possible through the support of the Daughters of the American Revolution. The Clark statue has been restored – again thanks to the support of the DAR.

Fort Massac State Park serves as the venue for “living history” programs throughout the year. Its most popular event is the annual Fort Massac Encampment – a weekend festival each October that highlights the area’s Colonial and early American past.


The reconstruction of historic Fort Massac, completed in 2003, resulted in a fort that is historically accurate to construction of the American fort in 1802. A new visitor center was also constructed at the park, and the exhibit gallery at the visitor center was dedicated last March.

The park also features a hiking trail, fishing and boat access on the Ohio River, a campground, picnic areas, and hunting programs.


###
 

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The above was reprinted from the Illinois Department of Natural Resources website

Click here to go to the Illinois Department of Natural Resources website

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Click here for a bit of history on Fort Massac from the Wikipedia Encyclopedia

 

Fall Colors Predictions......

 

According to the Missouri Department of Conservation this Fall is shaping up to be one of many splendid colors !   We received an unusually large amount of rain this year and that is good for the trees.

 

The foresters from around the state think it will be one to remember.

 

Click here for this week's "Fall Colors" forecast. 

Two Rivers Marina is For Sale.............

Two Rivers Marina is a 200+ slip facility located on the Mississippi River across the U.S. Highway 54 bridge from Louisiana, Missouri. A convenient overnight trip from all St. Louis marinas to the south, and Keokuk or Quincy to the north.

 

For more information go to the Two River Marina website...tworiversmarina.com

Click here for map
 

Please call the marina at 217-437-2321 or Jaime's cell at 573-754-2772 for additional information and to set up appointments for viewing.

Serious Inquiries only please.

Thank you
Jamie Aslin

Insurance Discounts Hybrid Boats........

    

According to a news story on TradeOnlytoday.com ..... Travelers Insurance is offering  discounts of up to 10 percent on insurance for hybrid boat and yacht insurance.

The company defines a hybrid as a boat that uses a propulsion system that incorporates an internal combustion engine along with an electric motor in its design.  Forward propulsion can be obtained with the use of the electric motor.....with or without ...the use of the internal combustion engine.

 

Click here to read the news article on hybrid boat insurance discounts.

 

 

Click here to read a news story (dated May 17, 2008) about a hybrid boat manufactured by Frauscher Bootswerft.   It's equipped with 256-horsepower Steyr engines and has a price tag of $185,000.

 

 Linking Illinois Fishing and Hunting Licenses To Child Support.....

According to a news story on The Prairie States Outdoors...... the linking of Illinois fishing and hunting licenses to child support payments has produced more than $263,500 in child support payments in the past year !

It's been an effective incentive to get some parents, who live in the state of Illinois, to pay their child support. September marks one year anniversary of the Illinois Department of Healthcare and Family Services teaming up with the Illinois Department of Natural Resources on this effort.

Hunting and fishing are consider privileges by the state of Illinois and they are not allowing  people to spend money on self enjoyment before taking  care of financial obligations to their children. The names of those applying for a licenses are crosschecked to the names of child support violators in the state.  If the applicant owes unpaid child support they may not issued a licenses.

Click here to read this news story.

 SAVE THE DELTA QUEEN

For more info go to www.save-the-delta-queen.org 

 

 

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The following reprinted from the Save-The-Delta-Queen website

 

 

Delta Queen: Memphis to New Orleans
Oct 30, 2008

 

Here is the official schedule for the Delta Queen for the next couple of days which might be her last active days as overnight passenger steamboat on the rivers

 

Don’t forget: We are not bidding the Delta Queen goodbye. We are sending her off to rest for the winter, while we continue the fight to have her exempted once and for all from a law that never should have involved her

 

 

The Delta Queen will arrive in Memphis on Thursday, October 30, for her final visit of the 2008 season. She is scheduled to come in at 8 a.m., but most likely she will be there in the early morning hours. Majestic America Line will hold a "Farewell Tribute" ceremony from 5:00 to 6:00 p.m. On Friday, October 31, at 6:00 p.m. the boat will depart Memphis for New Orleans with no passengers and only a skeleton crew onboard.

At each of five more ports along the way, the Tribute ceremony will be repeated. The grassroots Save the Delta Queen Campaign and the Mississippi Delta Grassroots Caucus urge everyone to come down to the waterfront to enjoy the boat’s legendary calliope and performances by the Delta Queen band and singers, but most importantly to rally in favor of keeping this quintessential American treasure in full operation.

The schedule is as follows:

Thursday, October 30 - Memphis, 5:00-6:00 p.m.
Saturday, November 1 - Helena, Arkansas, 4:00-5:00 p.m.
Sunday, November 2 - Greenville, Mississippi, 4:00-5:00 p.m.
Monday, November 3 - Vicksburg, Mississippi, 4:00-5:00 p.m.
Tuesday, November 4 - Natchez, Mississippi, 4:00-5:00 p.m.
Wednesday, November 5 - Baton Rouge, Louisiana, 4:00-5:00 p.m.

On Thursday, November 6, the Delta Queen will dock at Oak Alley Plantation for a private onboard ceremony. Plans are still in progress for events in New Orleans when the boat arrives there on Friday, November 7.

 

 

 

 
 

Thursday

 

October 30.. 2008

Over 1.9 Million Visitors Strong !

 Picture of the Day

 

 

 

 

   click on pic to enlarge

 

 

Our River Pictures of the Day...... are more sent in by Capt'n Mike Kolisch, who hails out of Port Charles Marina in the boat ... Cool Breeze

 

 

Bill,

 

We also took a few fall pics on river road Tuesday Little color but not peak yet.

 

Mike Kolisch

Cool Breeze

Port Charles Marina
 

 

 

 Yesteryears Picture of the Day

 

   

 

Click on pic to enlarge

 

 

Yester Year's River Pictures of the Day 2006----- 

 

Hi Bill, 
   Here are a few pics of the recovery team loading the boat that burned in Grafton on Oct 2nd...I was just returning from the trip to Mels Dockside a few of us made and got back in time to get a few shots of their effort...

Jeff Easley

   

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Navigation Notices ......

 

 

To: ALL MARINERS
From: Coast Guard Upper Miss
Date: 10/29/08
Subject: Safety Advisory for Missouri River (BNM NR 0559-08)
NAVNOTICE # 1461

SECTOR UPPER MISSISSIPPI RIVER ISSUES THE FOLLOWING SAFETY ADVISORY:
NAVIGATION FLOW SUPPORT FOR THE MISSOURI RIVER FROM THE MAIN STEM
RESERVOIR SYSTEM TO THE MOUTH WILL END ON 31 OCT 08, AND WILL RESUME
ON 01 APR 09.
 

 

~~~~~~^~~~~~~^~~~~~~^~~~~~~^~~~~~~
 

 

Check the CG/COE Hot Topics website for most current memos

       

Illinois Department of Natural Resources Press Release.....

 

 

 

          Illinois Department of Natural Resources                             
For Immediate Release

October 29, 2008

IDNR Warns Outdoors Enthusiasts of Carbon Monoxide Dangers
 


IDNR Warns Outdoors Enthusiasts of Carbon Monoxide Dangers



SPRINGFIELD – The Illinois Department of Natural Resources (IDNR) and its law enforcement arm, the Illinois Conservation Police, are reminding hunters, boaters, and campers to be aware of the dangers of carbon monoxide while enjoying these outdoor activities.  

Conservation Police Officers have responded to two incidents on houseboats this month that have led to the deaths of five people.  In both cases, older model generators on board the vessels were leaking carbon monoxide into the living quarters of the boats.  The incidents on the Mississippi River near Grafton, Illinois on October 5 and on Lake Shelbyville on October 26 were the first reported carbon monoxide fatalities on board watercraft in Illinois in the last five years according to U.S. Coast Guard statistics.

“Carbon monoxide is truly a silent killer since it’s colorless and odorless, and often isn’t detected until it’s too late,” said Illinois Conservation Police Chief Rafael Gutierrez.
“Many of these deaths occur during colder months when windows and doors are locked up at night leaving little or no ventilation inside.”

The accidents happen in boat cabins because usually they are small enclosures, but there are other areas where precautions also need to be taken. Small hunting cabins, campers, and hunting blinds where a kerosene heater or internal combustion engine may be used for warmth are also places where people need to take precautions.

“These types of generators, motors, and heaters are viable methods to stay warm, but if you are going to use them, they must be maintained properly with the right parts,” said Illinois Conservation Police Sgt. Joe Morelock. “I’ve seen too often people using parts like hoses and seals not made for the heating equipment they are using and that can cause these units to leak and not work properly.”

 

Conservation police offer the following tips when using heating devices:

 

  • Make sure your equipment such as generators, internal combustion engines, or any heater that burns petroleum products are vented and maintained properly.
    Always have a working carbon monoxide detector in any enclosure where people will be.

  • Always use replacement parts or components intended solely for the equipment being used.

  • Make sure the area you are in is ventilated at all times.

According to the National Safety Council, an estimated 300 people die each year in the United States from carbon monoxide poisoning, while thousands more are sickened by the gas. Many victims are overcome in their sleep, unaware of the elevated carbon monoxide levels in their homes

 

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The above was reprinted from the Illinois Department of Natural Resources website

Click here to go to the Illinois Department of Natural Resources website

Great Lakes Fish Virus....

According to a news story in the Prairie State Outdoors website.... Federal officials are reviewing the proposed rules intended to contain a fish-killing virus in the Great Lakes.

Critics are saying that they are unreasonable and could force some of the fish farmers to go out of business.
 

Click here to read the entire news story.....

RiverBills Upcoming Events........

 

 We have added a boatload of upcoming boat shows to RiverBills Upcoming Event Page.

 

Click here and check them out !       

Delta Queen Celebrates on Final Cruise......

On Thursday at 4 pm the Delta Queen will port in Memphis where it will drop off its last overnight passengers who are from Cincinnati. They will have a celebration at that time. Then it will head down to New Orleans where it will stay. On Friday, the Delta Queen loses its license to carry overnight passengers. It has been traveling the Mississippi River for over 80 years now and has made many stops in the St. Louis area.

To read this full story, click here on the Alton Daily News


 

Ducks Are Migrating Ahead Of Schedule.....

 According to a news story on Prairie States Outdoors ....Sunday's strong northwest winds brought new ducks to the state of Illinois. Aerial surveys showed a good number  of ducks throughout much of the state with an increased mallard count in most areas.
 

The numbers are declining along the Illinois and Mississippi rivers. The cold front, below average temperatures and strong northwest winds appeared to make many ducks head  south.
 

Click here to read entire news story

The Link is Fixed !

 

   Last Weekend's Edition of RiverBill's............. click here 

Boats Are a Good Investment .......
 

According to a column in the New York Times .... boats are good investments

The newspaper published a  a column titled, “Some purchases may still be worth the price.”   The writer advocates that a boat is more valuable than the money spent.
“A boat is also an investment in relationships, something that isn’t readily apparent until you’re on one a lot,” Lieber wrote........


 Click here to read the column.

River Rats In Key West..... 

 

Capt'n Darryll Weil sent us the following e-mail.

 

 

Bill,

 I posted an email and some pictures from Judy Meinershagen about their fishing trip while they are in Key West Florida.

 

Go to the Con Trios Yacht Club website www.contriosyachtclub.org to read the report and see the pictures.

 

Darryll Weil,

Con Trios Yacht Club webmaster
 

Winter Trout Fishing and Deer Season Start on the Same Weekend.........

Riverbills.com received the following e-mail from Jim Low of the Missouri Department of Conservation.
 


JEFFERSON CITY—Trout-fishing fanatics are likely to have an even more serene experience than usual when the winter fishing season opens at Missouri ’s four trout parks.

Solitude is one of the big draws of the winter fishing season. Cold weather and the requirement to release all trout unharmed dramatically reduce the number of people visiting Bennett Spring , Montauk and Roaring River state parks and Maramec Spring Park during the off season. This year the effect is likely to be even more pronounced because the winter-season opener falls on the same weekend as Missouri ’s firearms deer season opener.

“ Missouri has more than 470,000 firearms deer hunters,” said James Civiello, cold-water hatchery supervisor for the Missouri Department of Conservation. “A significant number of those folks also like trout fishing, so I think attendance will be down that first weekend.”

The expectation of lower attendance will not affect how many fish the Conservation Department releases at trout parks. Winter stocking rates are lower than during the peak fishing months, because harvesting fish is not permitted. Fish that are stocked during the winter season include large fish not needed for brood stock at Conservation Department trout hatcheries. These “lunkers” lend an element of excitement to the winter season.

This year’s winter no-creel season begins Nov. 14 and runs through Feb. 9. Winter fishing opportunities at state-owned trout parks have expanded in recent years and now include no-creel fishing from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. from Fridays through Mondays. The season starts the second Friday in November and continues through the second Monday in February. This schedule applies at the three state parks administered by the Missouri Department of Natural Resources.

The James Foundation’s Maramec Spring Park opens its gates to anglers from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. daily throughout the winter season.

Anglers can get detailed regulation pamphlets at each trout park. The pamphlets explain where fishing is allowed. Some facilities that are open during the regular fishing season may be closed during the catch-and-release season.

The only permits required for catch-and-release fishing at trout parks are a fishing permit (resident $12, nonresident $40, daily $7) and a statewide trout permit (resident or nonresident $7). The trout permit is valid throughout the winter season. These two permits also allow anglers to catch and keep trout all year in many public trout streams outside the parks.

Information about Missouri’s diverse trout fishing opportunities is found in “Missouri Trout Fishing,” which is available from MDC, Missouri Trout Fishing, P.O. Box 180, Jefferson City, MO 65102-0180, or by e-mailing pubstaff@mdc.mo.gov.

Further information is available by calling:

· Bennett Spring Fish Hatchery, near Lebanon , 417-532-4418.

· Maramec Spring Fish Hatchery, near St. James, 573-265-7801.

· Montauk Fish Hatchery, near Salem , 573-548-2585.

· Roaring River Fish Hatchery, near Cassville, 417-847-2430.

-Jim Low-

Two Rivers Marina is For Sale.............

Two Rivers Marina is a 200+ slip facility located on the Mississippi River across the U.S. Highway 54 bridge from Louisiana, Missouri. A convenient overnight trip from all St. Louis marinas to the south, and Keokuk or Quincy to the north.

 

For more information go to the Two River Marina website...tworiversmarina.com

Click here for map
 

Please call the marina at 217-437-2321 or Jaime's cell at 573-754-2772 for additional information and to set up appointments for viewing.

Serious Inquiries only please.

Thank you
Jamie Aslin

  Oasis Bar and Grill

                  636- 250 - 3100

    Mon - Thur .... 11AM - 9PM

      Fri & Sat ....... 11AM - 1:30AM

      Sun ................   9AM - 11PM

     

 

Limited Menu

$5.00 Lunch Specials...Mon - Thur

Sunday Breakfast Brunch  9AM - 12 Noon

Karaoke every Friday Night

Beaver Soup Nov 15

Click here for webpage

 

Halloween Party Sat Nov 1st       Live Music By .....Park Road