|
|
|
It's
the Weekend
Sat...
31 January 2015
Sun... 01 February 2015
Over 6.87
Million Boater Visits
To
The Always Changing
e-Waters of
RiverBills.com
|
|
|
|
Picture of the Day
Viewing Pavilion
Alton Dam
(Sun)
Click pic to enlarge
 The
Picture of the Day ...
Its a mid afternoon shot of the stately
looking viewing pavilion on the lower side of Alton Lock and
Dam. The pavilion is on the Illinois side of the
Mississippi River.
Looks like a nice place to "watch the
river flow."
RiverBill
|
|
|
|
Picture of the Day
Planting
Trees in the Lake
(Sat)
Click pic to enlarge
The
Pictures of the Day ...
were sent to us by Capt'n Marty Haugh a couple of weeks
ago ......
RiverBill,
Planted 21 trees in the lake today.
Captain Marty
RiverBill says... Now we
all know where your favorite fishing spot is ! Just don't
know what lake.
|
|
|
|
RiverBills Sticker Sighting
(Sat)
Point Dunne Nature Preserve
California
Click pic to enlarge
A
RiverBills' Sticker Sighting....
was sent to us by Capt'n Elmer Armstrong
Bill:
Here you are on your trip to LA last week enjoy.
See ya at the boat show.
Elmer
RiverBill says....
Thanks Elmer for taking RiverBills with you! Yah mon.......
|
|
|
|
Click here
to go to the
Boathouse Food and Deck website
|
|
|
|
Yesteryear's
Picture of
the Day
Click pic to enlarge
Yesteryear's Picture of the Day in
2009.......... was
of the Grafton Ferry and a Wintertime Boater.
Looks like Dutch on the.... " Scoundrel."
Picture
was taken from the Grafton Ferry landing on the Missouri side of the Mississippi River.
|
|
|
|
Featured Classifieds
Check
out
MORE BOATS
on the
"All
Classifieds Page"
click here
|
|
|
|
|
|
My River Home
Winterization Forms...
Click here
My River Home
website &
facebook
Longshot Saloon
facebook
The Cabana at the La Rosa
facebook
|
|
|
Click here
to go to
Grafton Harbor's website
618-786-PORT (7678)
|
|
|
|
River News !
|
|
|
|
Updated Sun at
5:00AM
Water
Patrol Division of Missouri Highway Patrol
01/30/2015...
COLLISION WITH FIXED OBJECT...
GASCONADE RIVER UPSTREAM FROM
MORTON'S BLUFF
TURNBOUGH, NEAL J... MALE...
57... FATAL
FATALITY
ACCIDENT - NEXT OF KIN HAS BEEN NOTIFIED - ACCIDENT OCCURRED
WHEN BOAT 1 WAS TRAVELLING UPSTREAM AND STRUCK A ROCK. BOAT
1 EXPERIENCED AN ENGINE MALFUNCTION AND BECAME CAUGHT IN A
CURRENT AND TOOK ON WATER. OWENSVILLE FIRE DEPARTMENT
ARRIVED ON SCENE AND RECOVERED OCCUPANT 1 FROM THE WATER.
OCCUPANT 1 WAS PRONOUNCED DEAD AT 0115 BY OSAGE COUNTY
CORONER LOIS JAEGERS. THIS IS TROOP F BOATING FATALITY #1
FOR JANUARY AND #1 FOR 2015.
Click here to go to the Missouri State Highway Patrol
website
|
|
|
Updated Sun
at 5:00AM
Mississippi River
At Hartford, Illinois
Confluence Tower Celebrates Native American
Culture........
Saturday the Lewis and Clark Confluence Tower was
packed with visitors looking to see John White
Antelope, and his son Tyler White Antelope of the
Northern Arapajo tribe. John White Antelope spoke
of his culture, as well as the different dialects of
the Native American tribes. He also discussed
Native American clothing, and dances, which Tyler
demonstrated.
Mary Ann Warmack says that the Lewis and Clark
Confluence Tower saw more than 100 visitors take the
tower tour. Visitors also listened to White
Antelope discuss his tribe, and tell stories about
the bald eagles.
White Antelope says that the Native Americans see
the bald eagle as "God's right-hand man", and he
recounted some of his experiences as they relate to
eagles, and his relationship with God. During the
event, an eagle was flying around the Confluence
Tower........
Click here to read this news article from
thetelegraph.com. With
Photos.
|
|
|
Updated Sun
at 5:00AM
Niagara
River
Daredevil Climbs Frozen Niagara Falls........
This winter's deep freeze has allowed Canadian ice
climber and X-Games athlete Will Gadd to climb up
Niagara Falls instead of going over. He ascended
the 147 foot high cliffs adjacent to the still
flowing Horseshoe Falls.
According to Redbull.com, it took Gadd approximately
an hour to make it to the top. He then repeated the
feat two more times. Gadd said that by the time he
was done, hypothermia was setting in.
Gadd and parks officials plotted out his route up
the falls the day before. He climbed down the
frozen waterfall as well to clear out the loose ice,
some of which was as large as a small car........
Click here to read this news story from
kfvs12.com. With Photo.
|
|
|
Updated Sun
at 5:00AM
Ozark
National Scenic Riverways
New Management Plan For Riverways Approved........
On January 22, the National Park Service approved a
new management plan for the Ozark National Scenic
Riverways. This is the first time the management
plan has been updated since 1984.
The new plan places limits on motorboat horsepower,
vehicular access to gravel bars, and is intended to
close some unauthorized horse trails.
The plan's approval by the National Park Service
marks the end of a controversial review process.
Local residents are concerned that the federal
government has overstepped their bounds by
restricting access to rivers........
Click here to read this news report from
columbiamissourian.com. With
Photo.
|
|
|
Updated Sun
at 5:00AM
Boat
Maintenance
Boaters often encounter problems. Typically, what
alerts you to an issue is an odd noise, or smell, or
the boat is not moving. Boating Magazine has
assembles a few troubleshooting tips, tricks and
solutions that could help you get your boat back
onto the water again........
Click here to
read these tips from boatingmag.com.
|
|
|
|
Updated Sun at 5:00AM
 River
History....
February 1, 2007 in River History
Bill Seebold Sr. Died Feb.1, 2007------ He was 91. Mr
Seebold was a native of Granite City, IL and started the six-decade Seebold
family racing dynasty by building boats in his basement in the 1930's..
|
|
|
River Gear
For Sale............
Click here to
buy your River T-shirts and
Accessories on-line..
Delivered right to you mailbox
in a few short days
|
|
|
|
|
|
Click here to go
to....
|
|
|
|
Updated 28 January
2015
US Army Corps of Engineers
St. Louis District - Weekly Navigation Channel Condition
Mississippi RIver
MILE 185.5 - L/D 27 CLOSURES - UPDATE
01/31/15, 0600-1800 Lock 27 main lock closure, installation
of support channels, usings divers, for the cell armor
plating. Navigation will also be closed on the following
shceduled dates for maintenance and repair: Commencing
01/29/15 and continuing until 2/16/15, from 0600 a.m. until
0600 p.m., each day. Commencing 2/14/15 and continuing until
02/16/15, from 0600 a.m. until 0600 p.m., each day. A helper
boat is being provided during the construction period for
north bound approaches to the main lock, in order to protect
the areas of construction. L/D 27 (Auxillary Chamber) will
remain closed until 3/21/15, for repairs. Navigation
interests should be alert, special instructions that may be
issued by the lockmaster.
MILE 190.8 - BRIDGE DEMOLITION
I-270 Canal Bridge: explosive demolition of the old I-270
Chain of Rocks Canal Bridge is scheduled for 2/3/2105
(upstream structure). The structure will be dropped and then
removed from the waterway within 24-hours, during which time
the waterway will be blocked to marine traffic.
Illinois River
MILE 184.7 - MILE 168.0 - CHANNEL CONDITION
In accordance with the Illinois Waterway WAP Annex,
navigation has been restricted to one-way traffic through
Peoria Lake, between Miles 184.7 and 168.0. This action will
help maintain the current ice trail and to prevent sheet ice
from breaking off the bank. Sheet ice and heavy ice gorges
can be expected throughout Peoria Lake and channels may be
blocked by ice in some locations. Mariners should be aware
that buoys may be unreliable due to icing conditions. Ice
flows render reflective material ineffective and may drag
buoys off station and sever buoys from their moorings.
Missouri River
MILE 44.0 - BRIDGE CONSTRUCTION
Daniel Boone Companion Bridge; Superstructure erection is
intermittently ongoing. At times work in the main channel
may require temporarily blocking the river for up to
8-hours, during those periods the alternate channel will be
available for use. Mariners may contact M/V GABRIEL J via
VHF-FM Channels 13 or 16, for more information.
Kaskaskia River
MILE 4.8 - AIDS TO NAVIGATION
Multiple can buoys have been reported not properly marking
the channel and partially submerged in the vicinity of Mile
4.8. Mariners are urged to exercise caution in the area.
Click here
to go to the
US Army Corps of Engineers website for the current
Navigation Channel Condition Status Report
|
|
|
|
Click here..Lewis
Boats Inc website |
|
|
Boat Manufacturer
Sea
Ray Resuming Production In Florida........
Brunswick has announced that they are reinstating
their Sykes Creek plant in Merritt Island, Florida,
so that they can meet demand for the Sea Ray L-Class
yachts.
Dustan E. McCoy, Brunswick's CEO, said that they are
sold out of some of their newer, larger vessels for
approximately a year. The reinstatement of the
plant will allow Sea Ray to increase the production
of the L-Class yacht, as well as eliminate costs and
inefficiencies incurred through the heavy demand.
McCoy added that Brunswick is doing this in all of
their businesses. The company has increased
production capacity at Boston Whaler, as well as at
Mercury Marine, and their aluminum boat
businesses........
Click here to read this news story from
tradeonlytoday.com.
|
|
|
Woodland Marina
125 Harbor Drive, St. Charles, MO 63301
636-250-3446
Marine Forklift Operator
Woodland Marina is seeking an experienced marine
forklift operator. The position is full time. Summer
season requires being on the job Saturday, Sunday
and some holidays.
Operator is responsible for transporting boats from
rack storage to our launch area and vice versa.
Any marina working experience with skills relating
to boat yard and harbor maintenance helpful. Good
customer service skills are essential.
Please call the office to schedule an interview at
636-250-3446.
All employees are required to pass a background
check and drug testing.
Benefits:
Vacation and personal days – after 1 year service--
5 days
|
|
|
River Shipping
News
Marquette Transportation Up For Sale........
U.S. towboat operator, Marquette Transportation
Company, LLC., is looking into a sale that may be
valued at over $1 billion. The company's owners,
including it's founding members, and buyout firm KRG
Capital Partners, LLC. are working with investment
bank Harris Williams & Co. on an auction for the
company.
Several private equity firms and others are
interested in Marquette, including MSD Capitol LP,
which is the private investment firm of Michael
Dell, Chief Executive Officer of Dell Inc., and his
family.
Marquette Transportation Company, LLC. is based in
Paducah, Kentucky, and offers towboat services along
the Mississippi River, as well as the other major
waterways in the U.S.. The company operates over
120 towboats, and 850 barges to serve agricultural
and energy companies........
Click here to read this news report from
marinelink.com. With Photo.
|
|
|
Good Morning St. Louis!
Join us in collaboration with the #STLBoatShow
in our weekly contest, before the show drops anchor!
Submit your best boating & outdoor
photo below for your chance to win a pair of show
tickets!
ENTER NOW....Click
"Submit Now" above
Winning tickets will be available at
"will call."
See map below
Click map to enlarge
|
|
|
RiverBillsSLTBoatShow
Photo Contest
Just a few of entries for "Free Tickets" to
the 2015 Progressive Boat and Sportshow
Click
here and check them all out
The first
weeks "Top 5 Photos" will be announced soon !
Submit your
picture today
|
|
|
2015 St. Louis Boat and
Sportshow Advance Purchase Discount Tickets
$2.00
Off General Admission, $3.00 Off For
RiverBills' Nite
Click here and purchase your discount tickets
TODAY !
|
|
|
Want a RiverBills.com Sticker
?
Send a
self addressed, stamped, #10 envelope to:
RiverBills.com LLC
PO Box 381
Hazelwood, Mo 63043
Stick it
Responsibly
|
|
|
|
REDUCED
WINTER SERVICE RATES
FREE FUEL
GIVEAWAY WINTER SPECIAL
Click ad to enlarge
Click here to go to
Port Charles website
Click here
Port Charles Harbor facebook
|
|
|
Ken
O'Neil Memorial Celebration...
Ken O’Neil , Long time River Rat and
friend to many past away last Saturday
unexpectedly . He will be missed greatly
!
There is a memorial celebration in his
honor this Saturday at 1:00PM at the
Boathouse for all who knew and loved him
. .
Thanks,
Dave Vankirk
RiverBill says....
Our prayers and condolences go out to
Ken's family........
|
|
|
Coldwater
Creek Near Hazelwood, Missouri
Corps:
Coldwater Creek Cleanup To Take Years........
On Thursday, over
100 people attended a hearing in which officials
with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers discussed
the clean up of radioactive sites around St.
Louis, including Coldwater Creek.
The Corps is saying
that the removal of contaminated soil from
Coldwater Creek, and other contaminated sites
around the St. Louis area.
Some people that
grew up around the creek attribute health
problems, including cancer, to the radioactive
material in the creek. Corps' health physicist
says that there is no short term risk to
residents living along the creek, however, long
term exposure will increase the risk........
Click here to read this news article from
fox2now.com.
tions.
|
|
|
North Charleston, SC
Historic War
Ships
Confederate Submarines Hull Revealed
Again........
One hundred and
fifty years after the Confederate submarine
H.L. Hunley sank, and 15 years after she was
raised, scientists are finally getting a peek at
the vessel's hull. The Hunley was the
first sub in history to sink an enemy vessel,
and scientists are hoping to figure out why she
sank.
The hand cranked
Hunley was equipped with a 16 foot spar that
was tipped with a black powder charge, which it
used to sink the Union blockade ship, USS
Housatonic off the coast of Charleston in
February, 1864. Neither the Hunley, nor
her crew made it back to shore.
When the Hunley
was raised in 2000, she was encrusted with a
hardened coat of sand, sediment, and rust that
scientists call concretion. So far,
approximately 70% of the hull has been revealed,
and the scientists say that the exposed hull is
giving up some secrets about why the Hunley
sank........
Click here to read this news story from
yahoo.com. With Photos
|
|
|
|
 
|
|
|
|
Boat Manufacturer
New Great Lakes Manufacturer's Rep For Baja........
On Friday,
Baja Marine, the parent company of Baja, Donzi, Fountain and
Pro-Line boats, announced that Stellar Traders, LLC., is now
their manufacturer's for the Great Lakes region, including the
states of Illinois, Iowa, Michigan, Minnesota, and Wisconsin.
Johnny
Walker, CEO of Baja Marine, says that the appointment of Stellar
Traders will increase the reach of the company in a critical
market for their popular family, fishing and high performance
boats.
Walker added
that boaters in the Great Lakes region appreciate Baja Marine's
quality boat brands, which offer safe and affordable fun for
families. Walker quipped that their reintroduction of the retro
Donzi Classic series was aimed at this market in
particular........
Click here to read this news article from
boatingindustry.com. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Grafton Weekly Event & Music Calendar
Click here
and check out Grafton's Weekly Event and Music Calendar
Reprinted from a Grafton Chamber of Commerce e-mailing
|
|
|
February 07, 2015
Palisades Yacht
Club Eagle Watch Party
|
|
|
February 1st
Froge's Bar and Grill
SUPER BOWL SUNDAY starts at 4pm all u can eat $5 per
person, chili, hot dogs, sloppy Joe's and pork
rinds!!! $10 buckets of domestic beers, 5 in a
bucket!!!! Reserve tables now it's filling up
quick..........
Reprinted from Facebook
|
|
|
January 31st
The BoatHouse
Dawn Liston's Birthday
Saturday.....January
31st.....Dawn Listons' Birthday
Doors open at 11:00 AM
Pat Liston plays from 4:00 to
7:00
|
|
|
Saturday, Jan
31
Mississippi River at the Alton Visitor Center
Live American Bald Eagle Meet & Greet
See a live American Bald Eagle up close and
personal! Ask and learn about their species and
habitats.
Saturday, Jan. 24 & 31
10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Alton Visitor Center
Alton, IL
(800) 258-6645
Click here to go to the All Around Alton website
|
|
|
January 31, 2015
Confluence
Tower, Hartford, IL
Native American
Tribute to the Bald Eagle.
10AM - 2PM
Celebrate the elegance and
significance of the American Bald Eagle and its impact on a
variety of native cultures during this event at the Lewis &
Clark Confluence Tower. Listen to Native American folklore and
watch an authentic Eagle Dance performed every hour.
Click here for more information
Reprinted from Lewis & Clark Confluence Tower
website
|
|
|
2015 St. Louis Boat and Sportshow
RiverBills Night..... Thursday, March 5th
RiverBills Night at the 2015
St. Louis Boat & Sportshow is scheduled for
Thursday, March 5th. RiverBills has the lounge area
on the second floor reserved for that night.
The lounge has windows with a view of most of the
show.
We will also be sponsoring
the shuttle vans that pick people up at various
parking lots and deliver them to the America's
Center as well as on-line discount tickets for you
and a ticket give-away photo contest.
Keep your anchor right here
for more details. Looking forward to seeing you
there.
Click here
to go St. Louis boat & Sportshow website
|
|
|
|
RiverBills
Facebook Page
Check out RiverBills
Facebook Page
Click here
|
|
|
|
Click here St. Charles
Boat & Motor website
Click here St. Charles boat & Motor Facebook
|
|
|
Mississippi River Near La Crosse, Wisconsin
Probation For Mississippi River Rentals
Co-Owner........
The co-owner of now defunct houseboat rental
company, Mississippi River Rentals, has been
sentenced to serve the maximum two years probation
for stealing from her customers. Back in 2013,
prosecutors charged the co-owners of Mississippi
River Rentals, LLC., Kristina Short and Michael
Fuchsel nine felony counts of theft, and four
misdemeanor counts of theft.
Short and Fuschel had failed to refund the rental
payments and security deposits to 57 customers in
2012 and 2013. Their victims lost over $60,000.
Short pled guilty to one count of felony theft,
three counts of misdemeanor theft, and a retail
theft charge in an unrelated case. If Short
completes her probation, serves 60 days on electric
monitoring, and pays restitution, the felony charge
will be dropped........
Click here to read this news report from
lacrossetribune.com.
|
|
|
River Television
HBO
Producing Lewis And Clark Miniseries........
This
summer, HBO will be starting production on a six hour
miniseries based upon the Stephen Ambrose book
"Undaunted Courage", which tells the story of the Lewis
and Clark Expedition.
Brad
Pitt, Edward Norton, and Tom Hanks are partnering up
their production companies for the project. So far,
Casey Affleck will play Meriwether Lewis and Matthias
Schoenaerts will play William Clark. The role of
Sacajawea has yet to be cast, but a Native American
actress is reportedly being sought.
Locations have been scouted in Georgia, Montana, Oregon,
and Washington, but the miniseries is expected to be
filmed in Canada........
Click here to read this news tidbit from
stltoday.com.
|
|
|
Make
Your
Boat
a
RiverBills
Header
Picture
Make
your
boat
a
RiverBills
header
picture
!
Just
send
us a
shot
of
your
boat,
keeping
in
mind
that
that
the
picture
needs
to
be
proportioned
similar
to
one
above
of
Marty
Haugh's
1967
Lyman.
We
will
crop
it,
add
your
name,
the
boat
name
and
year.
We
have
a
few
boats
from
last
year
that
never
got
posted....
Look
for
them
soon
!
Send
your
pictures
to
riverbill@prodigy.net
|
|
|
River Ferries
Illinois
River
Brussels
Ferry..............618 - 786-3636
Mississippi River
Golden Eagle
Ferry ......618- 535-5759
Winfield
Ferry...............618 - 396-2535
Grafton Ferry............... 1-800-258-6645...
Closed for the season
|
|
|
|
Last Weekend's Edition of RiverBills....
Click here for last
weekend's edition of RiverBills
|
|
|
Who's Open.. Who's Closed
|
|
|
|
Who's
Open... Who's Closed........
Big Kahuna.......................
Closed
Boathouse Food &
Deck.... Closed
Cedar Hill
Resort................
Closed
Duck Club Yacht Club ....... Closed
Evandy's Boatel................. Open all year
Froges Bar & Grill.............. Open all Year
Kinder's
Restaurant............
Closed
Longshot
Saloon................ Closed
LaRosa
Cantina.................. Closed
Palisades Yacht
Club......... Closed Dec 19, reopening in Jan 2015
Sundowners.......................
Closed
|
|
|
|
Polestar
Boating Center
River
Weather Station
History for weather station KMOSTCHA4...Polestar Boating
Center, St.Charles, MO..
Click here
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
 David Berg's Blog
"Great Escape" We are currently "dirt dwellers" but have lived aboard traveling for as long as 7 months at a time.
Click here to go to "Bergs on Great Escape Blog" and read the latest blog
|
|
|
Click
here
to
read Jalsails's
latest
blog
Reprinted
from
Jalsails's
Blog
|
|
|
Sailing on the Mardi Gras Blog
Click here to continue read Barry and Linda's latest blog
|
|
|
|
River
Levels & Water Temp for your phone
River
Levels for Pool 26............
http://www.riverbills.com/River.html
Alton to
Hannibal........................ http://www.riverbills.com/River-Mis.html
Hardin to
Peoria .........................
http://www.riverbills.com/River-Ill.html
Saverton, Louisiana,
Clarksville...
http://www.riverbills.com/River-Lou.html
Add
current "river level" information to your mobile device. All
you need is internet access... Simply add one of the links
shown above
River level information
in the charts is updated every 15 minutes to US Army Corps
of Engineers data
|
|
|
|
Send
Us Your News Tip !
If you see something that
you think your fellow boaters would be interested in, send
us a news tip. Email it to
RiverBill@prodigy.net
and we will get it on-line.
|
|
|
|
River Updates from facebook
Click here to go
to RiverBills List of River facebook pages
in upper left hand column of this page
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
It's
Friday
30 January 2015
Over 6.87
Million Boater Visits
To
The Always Changing
e-Waters of
RiverBills.com
|
|
|
|
New Life For An Old Boat
Click pic to enlarge
The
Picture of the Day....
was sent to us by Capt'n
Stephen McFarland who hails out of the Yacht Club of St.
Louis....
Hey Bill,
After sitting on stands for a few years, John and the crew at
Bloch Marine did a great job breathing new life into this little
beauty. Yesterday we set her back in the water as she counts
down the days to hopefully an early spring on the river.
Happy boating!
Stephen M.
Hailing out of Yacht Club of St Louis
|
|
|
|
RiverBills Sticker Sighting
The Mediterranean
Ephesus, Turkey
Olympia, Greece
Spain
Click pic to enlarge
A
RiverBills' Sticker Sighting....
was sent to us by Leslie Drainer
Hi Bill
My brother and sister-in-law, Terry and Kathy McGhee, wanted me
to take some pictures with the sticker when I went on my cruise.
They hail out of Grafton Harbor, C Dock.....
PS: Terry's nickname on the river is .... Iceman
Leslie Drainer
|
|
|
|
Update
Sailing on Mardi Gras
Click pic to enlarge
Yesterday's
Picture of the Day Update....
was sent to us by Linda Munsell of the sailing ship.....
Mardi Gras
Hi Bill
Linda has made a new blog entry and we will be doing another
tomorrow. Thanks for putting Linda's picture on your website.
Did you notice the river Bill sticker on the outboard?
There is a lot going on in that picture. We were looking to get
out of a stormy anchorage and checked with the nearest marina
who told us we could come in. He didn't know what he was talking
about!!! Had I looked closer at Active Captain data I would have
seen max depth for the inlet was 5 feet at high tide. Wind and
waves were behind us as we came into the narrow passage and we
couldn't turn around after we started in so we churned our way
in. Plenty of water after getting in. We waited out the storm
for three days and then went out at high tide. As Linda said,
our Canadian friends with their Mc Gregor 26 gave us a couple
wakes to break us loose to float into high water so we could
call off Tow Boat US. Whew, what a close call.
Headed to Key West tomorrow.
Jerry and Kak flew home today.
Barry
Mardi Gras
RiverBill says.... Make
sure to scroll down and read Sailing on the Mardi Gras latest
blog
|
|
|
|
Click here
to go to the
Boathouse Food and Deck website
|
|
|
|
Yesteryear's
Picture of
the Day
Click pic to enlarge
Yesteryear's Picture of the Day in
2014..... was sent to us by Sherri Stanczak who hails out of Lake Center
marina in the boat..... Belly Dancer
Sherri sent us a picture taken by her
husband, Mike, from his powered parachute this past summer.
|
|
|
|
Featured Classifieds
Check
out
MORE BOATS
on the
"All
Classifieds Page"
click here
|
|
|
|
|
|
My River Home
Winterization Forms...
Click here
My River Home
website &
facebook
Longshot Saloon
facebook
The Cabana at the La Rosa
facebook
|
|
|
Click here
to go to
Grafton Harbor's website
618-786-PORT (7678)
|
|
|
|
River News !
|
|
|
|
Water
Patrol Division of Missouri Highway Patrol
No new incident
reports
Click here to go to the Missouri State Highway Patrol
website
|
|
|
River Gear
For Sale............
Click here to
buy your River T-shirts and
Accessories on-line..
Delivered right to you mailbox
in a few short days
|
|
|
|
|
|
Click here to go
to....
|
|
|
|
Updated 28 January
2015
US Army Corps of Engineers
St. Louis District - Weekly Navigation Channel Condition
Mississippi RIver
MILE 185.5 - L/D 27 CLOSURES - UPDATE
01/31/15, 0600-1800 Lock 27 main lock closure, installation
of support channels, usings divers, for the cell armor
plating. Navigation will also be closed on the following
shceduled dates for maintenance and repair: Commencing
01/29/15 and continuing until 2/16/15, from 0600 a.m. until
0600 p.m., each day. Commencing 2/14/15 and continuing until
02/16/15, from 0600 a.m. until 0600 p.m., each day. A helper
boat is being provided during the construction period for
north bound approaches to the main lock, in order to protect
the areas of construction. L/D 27 (Auxillary Chamber) will
remain closed until 3/21/15, for repairs. Navigation
interests should be alert, special instructions that may be
issued by the lockmaster.
MILE 190.8 - BRIDGE DEMOLITION
I-270 Canal Bridge: explosive demolition of the old I-270
Chain of Rocks Canal Bridge is scheduled for 2/3/2105
(upstream structure). The structure will be dropped and then
removed from the waterway within 24-hours, during which time
the waterway will be blocked to marine traffic.
Illinois River
MILE 184.7 - MILE 168.0 - CHANNEL CONDITION
In accordance with the Illinois Waterway WAP Annex,
navigation has been restricted to one-way traffic through
Peoria Lake, between Miles 184.7 and 168.0. This action will
help maintain the current ice trail and to prevent sheet ice
from breaking off the bank. Sheet ice and heavy ice gorges
can be expected throughout Peoria Lake and channels may be
blocked by ice in some locations. Mariners should be aware
that buoys may be unreliable due to icing conditions. Ice
flows render reflective material ineffective and may drag
buoys off station and sever buoys from their moorings.
Missouri River
MILE 44.0 - BRIDGE CONSTRUCTION
Daniel Boone Companion Bridge; Superstructure erection is
intermittently ongoing. At times work in the main channel
may require temporarily blocking the river for up to
8-hours, during those periods the alternate channel will be
available for use. Mariners may contact M/V GABRIEL J via
VHF-FM Channels 13 or 16, for more information.
Kaskaskia River
MILE 4.8 - AIDS TO NAVIGATION
Multiple can buoys have been reported not properly marking
the channel and partially submerged in the vicinity of Mile
4.8. Mariners are urged to exercise caution in the area.
Click here
to go to the
US Army Corps of Engineers website for the current
Navigation Channel Condition Status Report
|
|
|
|
Click here..Lewis
Boats Inc website |
|
|
Bloch Marine
Reprinted from Facebook
|
|
|
Mississippi River
At St. Louis, Missouri
Commissioning Of Consultants For Riverfront Stadium
Approved........
On Thursday, the public board that owns and
constructed the Edward Jones Dome unanimously
approved the hiring of consultants for the
development of a 64,000 seat, open air stadium along
the north riverfront downtown.
Chairman of the St. Louis Regional Convention and
Sports Complex Authority, Jim Shrewsbury, says that
this vote was quite significant, as stadium planners
have for the most part volunteered their time. He
added that there is now a public body authorized to
begin the process of building a new stadium
downtown.
Shrewsbury cautioned that these are very preliminary
steps, and there would be much to do before breaking
ground on the project. This vote did give Governor
Jay Nixon's two man team more ammunition for the
fight to keep the Rams in St. Louis........
Click here to read this news report from
stltoday.com.
|
|
|
Reprinted from Facebook
|
|
|
01-20-15
Bridge Demolition.... Downstream structure
February 3, 2015
Chain of Rocks
Canal.....Mississippi River
Bridge Demolition
Mississippi River
MILE 190.8 - BRIDGE
DEMOLITION
I-270 Canal Bridge: explosive demolition of the old
I-270 Chain of Rocks Canal Bridge is scheduled for
2/3/2105 (upstream structure). The structure will be
dropped and then removed from the waterway within
24-hours, during which time the waterway will be
blocked to marine traffic.
Reprinted from US Army Corps of
Engineers
|
|
|
Woodland Marina
125 Harbor Drive, St. Charles, MO 63301
636-250-3446
Marine Forklift Operator
Woodland Marina is seeking an experienced marine
forklift operator. The position is full time. Summer
season requires being on the job Saturday, Sunday
and some holidays.
Operator is responsible for transporting boats from
rack storage to our launch area and vice versa.
Any marina working experience with skills relating
to boat yard and harbor maintenance helpful. Good
customer service skills are essential.
Please call the office to schedule an interview at
636-250-3446.
All employees are required to pass a background
check and drug testing.
Benefits:
Vacation and personal days – after 1 year service--
5 days
|
|
|
Mississippi River
At St. Louis, Missouri
Arch Grounds Project Reaches Major Milestone........
This week, the Gateway Arch Grounds renovation
project reached a major milestone. On Friday, the
southern portion of the newly renovated Leonor K.
Sullivan Boulevard will be reopened, from the Grand
Staircase south to Chouteau. Leonor K. Sullivan
from the Grand Staircase north to Biddle Street will
close for renovation.
The most noticeable improvement made to the
completed section of the boulevard is that it has
been raised 2.5 feet in order to reduce flooding.
Also, the concrete wall facing the Mississippi River
is fluted, and much higher than the old one.
According to CityArchRiver Foundation Executive
Director Maggie Hales, the next big part of the
project is the renovation of the museum beneath the
Arch. Bids on the renovation project are due
Friday. It is expected to be open in 2017........
Click here to read this news article from
fox2now.com. With Video.
|
|
|
Good Morning St. Louis!
Join us in collaboration with the #STLBoatShow
in our weekly contest, before the show drops anchor!
Submit your best boating & outdoor
photo below for your chance to win a pair of show
tickets!
ENTER NOW....Click
"Submit Now" above
Winning tickets will be available at
"will call."
See map below
Click map to enlarge
|
|
|
2015 St. Louis Boat and
Sportshow Advance Purchase Discount Tickets
$2.00
Off General Admission, $3.00 Off For
RiverBills' Nite
Click here and purchase your discount tickets
TODAY !
|
|
|
|
REDUCED
WINTER SERVICE RATES
FREE FUEL
GIVEAWAY WINTER SPECIAL
Click ad to enlarge
Click here to go to
Port Charles website
Click here
Port Charles Harbor facebook
|
|
|
Ken
O'Neil Memorial Celebration
Ken O’Neil , Long time River Rat and
friend to many past away last Saturday
unexpectedly . He will be missed greatly
!
There is a memorial celebration in his
honor this Saturday at 1:00PM at the
Boathouse for all who knew and loved him
. .
Thanks,
Dave Vankirk
RiverBill says....
Our prayers and condolences go out to
Ken's family........
|
|
|
US Coast Guard
News Release
Chicago woman pleads guilty for making hoax
distress call in 2013
CHICAGO – A Chicago woman pled guilty to making
a false distress call nearly two years ago which
led to several agencies launching a dangerous
search and rescue operation in Lake Michigan off
of Rogers Park Beach, the U.S. Attorney and
Coast Guard announced, Thursday.
Leona Chewning, 24, was charged earlier this
month with one count of communicating a false
distress message to the Coast Guard.
In pleading guilty, Chewing admitted that she
knowingly and willfully communicated a false
distress message to the Coast Guard and caused
the Coast Guard to attempt to save lives and
property when no help was needed, a violation of
Title 14, United States Code, Section 88c. She
pled guilty today at her arraignment before U.S.
District Judge Charles Norgle in Federal Court
in Chicago.
Today’s announced guilty plea was made by
Zachary Fardon, U.S. Attorney for the Northern
District of Illinois and Capt. Nicholas
Bartolotta, chief of response for the Ninth
Coast Guard District.
Shortly after 9 p.m. on Feb. 4, 2013, Chewning
called Chicago 911 from Rogers Park Beach
stating a person was in distress in the icy
water just off a seawall. An ice rescue team
from Coast Guard Station Wilmette Harbor
responded by land.
A Coast Guard air crew also launched aboard a
Dolphin helicopter from Air Station Traverse
City, Michigan. Members of the Chicago Police
and Fire departments also responded with
personnel and assets.
Chicago Fire Department divers entered the water
near the location where Chewning claimed a
person fell in, but did not locate anyone.
Chewning admitted that at the time she made the
call, she knew her report was false. The case
was subsequently turned over to the Coast Guard
Investigative Services and the U.S. Attorney’s
Office.
“False distress calls like this one tie up
valuable assets and put our crews at risk since
we take every distress call seriously,” said
Bartolotta. “They impede the ability of first
responders like the Coast Guard and our partners
to respond to real distress where lives may be
on the line. We want to make sure people know
the dangers and consequences of knowingly making
a hoax call.”
“Hoax calls are costly and risky for the
responding agencies and the personnel who put
their lives on the line to save others," said
Fardon. "The U.S. Attorney’s Office and the
Coast Guard will prosecute those who needlessly
make false rescue reports and hold them
accountable for their crime.”
Coast Guard response helicopters and boats can
cost more than $10,000 and $4,000 per hour
respectively to conduct search and rescue
operations.
Intentionally deceiving the Coast Guard is a
federal felony with a maximum penalty of six
years in prison, a $250,000 fine and
reimbursement to the Coast Guard for the cost of
performing the search. This search cost the
Coast Guard $13,613.
Chewning is free on her own recognizance while
awaiting sentencing on April 22.
Her plea agreement anticipates an advisory
United States Sentencing Guidelines range of 4
to 10 months incarceration, and the court must
impose a reasonable sentence.
Reprinted from US
Coast Guard....
click here
|
|
|
US Army Corps of Engineers
Work crews top out Kentucky Lock's
first concrete monolith
GRAND RIVERS, Ky. - The U.S. Army Corps of
Engineers Nashville District placed concrete to
top-out the first massive concrete monolith for
the Kentucky Lock Addition project this past
week. This milestone is a significant step
towards completion of the new 1,200-foot-long
navigation lock at Kentucky Dam.
"This is a monumental accomplishment that is a
testimony to the exceptional work of the
Kentucky Lock team," said Lt. Col. John L.
Hudson, Nashville District commander. "The
Corps, along with our partners the Tennessee
Valley Authority and our contractor, Thalle
Construction Company, have been working very
well together to overcome the many challenges
that face a project of this magnitude to make
this day possible. Placing concrete in the
recent cold weather is an example of one of
these challenges."
The monolith that was completed this past week
is the first of 61 monoliths that will comprise
the two walls of the new lock. Under the current
construction contract, Thalle will construct the
first nine monoliths. They are approximately 80
percent complete with a completion time
scheduled for the spring of 2016. Under Thalle's
contract they will place about 130,000 cubic
yards of concrete. Another 850,000 cubic yards
of concrete placement is required in future
contracts to complete the planned lock.
The Corps is constructing a new navigation lock
at Kentucky Dam to reduce the significant
bottleneck that the 600-foot-long current lock
causes on this important waterway. Because of
high Tennessee River traffic levels and the
current lock's size, the average delay times for
commercial tows going through Kentucky Lock
average from seven to over nine hours - near the
highest in the country.
"The new lock will eliminate these delays and
result in a much more efficient river
transportation system," said Don Getty, project
manager.
Getty said that progress on Kentucky Lock
project has been slowed since construction began
in 1998 because 50 percent of Kentucky Lock's
funds are from a special federal fund, the
Inland Waterways Trust Fund - and insufficient
funds in the IWTF have been the main bottleneck
in funding to date.
Two watershed events transpired in the last year
that should significantly reduce or eliminate
this financial bottleneck. In June 2014 the
Water Resources Reform and Development Act was
enacted, which permanently reduced the Olmsted
Lock and Dam project IWTF cost share from 50 to
15 percent. And last month an Act was signed by
the president that increased the marine diesel
fuel fee that funds the IWTF from 20 cents per
gallon to 29 cents per gallon - an increase that
was widely supported by those that pay it - the
marine industry. Because of these two watershed
events, the financial future for the Kentucky
Lock project is very bright, Getty said.
The total cost for the Kentucky Lock project is
$862 million with about $392 million expended to
date, or about 45 percent complete. If efficient
future funding levels are provided, the earliest
expected completion date is 2023. The next
construction contract for the project is the
Downstream Cofferdam, which could potentially be
awarded as early as this summer.
Reprinted from Army
Corps of Engineers....
click here
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Arsenal Clock
Tower View from Arsenal Clock
Tower
Photos from the Wikimedia
Commons, a freely licensed media file
repository.
|
Mississippi
River At Rock Island, Illinois
Corps Offering Clock Tower, Eagle Watching Tours........
On Saturday
January 31, and February 7, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers'
Mississippi River Visitors Center at Locks and Dam No.15 will be
offering Clock Tower and eagle watching tours. The free tours
will run from 9:30 am to 2 pm.
The tours are
guided by an Army Corps Park Ranger, and last approximately 90
minutes. The tours begin at the Mississippi River Center, on
the western end of Arsenal Island at Locks and Dam No.15. The
tours require walking up 12 flights of stairs, and a portion of
the tour is out doors.
Visitors can
enter the island through either the Rock Island or or Moline
gates, and should allow extra time to arrive on time for the
tour, as vehicles are subject to search. Children under 12 must
be accompanied by as adult, and photo ID is required for all
persons over 16........
Click here to read this news article from qctimes.com. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Grafton Weekly Event & Music Calendar
Click here
and check out Grafton's Weekly Event and Music Calendar
Reprinted from a Grafton Chamber of Commerce e-mailing
|
|
|
February 1st
Froge's Bar and Grill
SUPER BOWL SUNDAY starts at 4pm all u can eat $5 per
person, chili, hot dogs, sloppy Joe's and pork
rinds!!! $10 buckets of domestic beers, 5 in a
bucket!!!! Reserve tables now it's filling up
quick..........
Reprinted from Facebook
|
|
|
January 31st
The BoatHouse
Dawn Liston's Birthday
Saturday.....January
31st.....Dawn Listons' Birthday
Doors open at 11:00 AM
Pat Liston plays from 4:00 to
7:00
|
|
|
2015 St. Louis Boat and Sportshow
RiverBills Night..... Thursday, March 5th
RiverBills Night at the 2015
St. Louis Boat & Sportshow is scheduled for
Thursday, March 5th. RiverBills has the lounge area
on the second floor reserved for that night.
The lounge has windows with a view of most of the
show.
We will also be sponsoring
the shuttle vans that pick people up at various
parking lots and deliver them to the America's
Center as well as on-line discount tickets for you
and a ticket give-away photo contest.
Keep your anchor right here
for more details. Looking forward to seeing you
there.
Click here
to go St. Louis boat & Sportshow website
|
|
|
Reprinted from facebook...
click to enlarge
February 14 -15, 2015
Mississippi River
At Alton, Illinois
Masters Of The Sky Event Coming Up........
The National Great Rivers Museum,
in conjunction with the Meeting of the Rivers
Foundation will be bringing back the Masters of the
Sky program. The event is presented by the World
Bird Sanctuary.
The Masters of the Sky program will be held at the
the National Great Rivers Museum, located at the
Melvin Price Locks and Dam on February 14th and
15th.
Admission for the Masters of the Sky event is $5 for
adults, $3 for kids 4 - 12, and kids 3 and under are
free. The event typically draws a crowd, so
reservations are recommended........
Click here to read more from altondailynews.com.
With Photo and Audio.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Tickets
are currently on sale for the annual Masters of the
Sky event on February 14th and 15th!
While admission to the museum activities is free of
charge, tickets for the Masters of the Sky show are
$5 for adults, $3 for children 4-12 years of age,
and free for children 3 and under who can sit on a
parent or guardian lap. Tickets may be purchased by
visiting the National Great Rivers Museum, by
calling 618-462-6979, or online at www.mtrf.org
|
|
|
|
RiverBills
Facebook Page
Check out RiverBills
Facebook Page
Click here
|
|
|
|
Click here St. Charles
Boat & Motor website
Click here St. Charles boat & Motor Facebook
|
|
|
Mississippi
River Near Alton, Illinois
Eagles, Eagle Watchers Drawn To Alton........
Each
winter, eagles and eagle watchers flock to the Riverbend
region, and Alton, Illinois seems to be the hub of eagle
watching activity in the area.
Eagles perch along the limestone bluffs that line the
Great River Road, and eagle watchers pull to the curb to
watch them. The birds also hitch a ride down the
Mississippi River aboard ice floes, and visitors heading
south on Illinois Route 100 pull over, and are right
there to observe the eagles.
During this time of year, eagles, while abundant, aren't
the only birds to watch. Screech owls, gulls, terns,
ducks, geese and birds of virtually every other type are
visible along the river........
Click here to read this news story from
thesouthern.com. With Photos.
|
|
|
|
Missouri
Department Of Conservation
Public Input Sought For Little Dixie Lake CA........
Currently,
the Missouri Department of Conservation is in the midst of a
multi-year effort to update Conservation Area Management Plans,
and they are asking for input from the public on how the
conservation areas are important to Missourians.
A draft plan
for the Little Dixie Lake Conservation Area will be available
for the public review between February 1 to February 28.
The Little
Dixie Lake Conservation Area covers 733-acres, and offers
birding, fishing, hiking, hunting, and other opportunities, in
Callaway County, near Kingdom City, Missouri........
Click here to read more from the Missouri Department of
Conservation website.
Click here to look over the draft management plan, and share
comments online. |
|
|
|
NEWS from
BoatUS
Buyer Beware of Ethanol Fuel in North Carolina: 60 Sheetz
Stations to Offer E15 in 2015
RALEIGH, NC, January 29, 2015 – The Altoona, Pennsylvania based
convenience store chain Sheetz announced on January 21 that it
would offer E15 fuel – gas containing up to 15% ethanol – at 60
of their North Carolina locations beginning in early 2015. Boat
Owners Association of The United States (BoatUS) believes that
could be a problem for recreational boaters, motorists and many
other users of gasoline-powered equipment and vehicles.
There are no marine engines warrantied to run on E15 and
according to AAA, most automobile manufacturers say any damage
due to the use of this higher ethanol blend fuel will void the
warranty.
In the US, nine out of every ten boaters own a trailerable boat
that is most often filled up at a roadside gas station – not at
a marina gas dock. While any gasoline with greater than 10%
ethanol (E10) is prohibited for use with recreational boat
engines, it’s a common practice among trailer boaters to fill
the tow vehicle first, then simply pull the boat up to the pump
and insert the same gas pump nozzle into to boat’s fuel fill. A
small, inadequate warning label on the pump pointing to the
prohibited uses of E15 may contribute to a situation ripe for
misfueling.
“This isn’t just about boats,” said BoatUS Government Affairs
Program Manager Nicole Palya-Wood. “If you own an older car,
truck, or any small engine such as a lawnmower or leaf blower
that uses gas, you will need to be very aware -- and take an
extra moment to ensure -- you’re not putting higher ethanol E15
in the tank. At stations that offer multiple fuel selections
these corn-based ethanol fuels are often the lowest price, which
is an attraction for frugal boaters. Ironically, owners of
small, affordable boats could get hit the hardest when the
expensive repair bill comes,” added Wood.
BoatUS, which has nearly 20,000 members in North Carolina, will
continue to lobby Congress to reform the Renewable Fuel Standard
(RFS) – a law which forces these higher blends and less
compatible fuels onto the public. For more on the Renewable Fuel
Standard go to www.BoatUS.com/gov.
Sheetz operates 437 locations in six states, including
Pennsylvania, Maryland, Virginia, West Virginia, Ohio and North
Carolina.
This press
release reprinted by permission of Scott Croft of BoatUS.
|
|
|
Make
Your
Boat
a
RiverBills
Header
Picture
Make
your
boat
a
RiverBills
header
picture
!
Just
send
us a
shot
of
your
boat,
keeping
in
mind
that
that
the
picture
needs
to
be
proportioned
similar
to
one
above
of
Marty
Haugh's
1967
Lyman.
We
will
crop
it,
add
your
name,
the
boat
name
and
year.
We
have
a
few
boats
from
last
year
that
never
got
posted....
Look
for
them
soon
!
Send
your
pictures
to
riverbill@prodigy.net
|
|
|
River Ferries
Illinois
River
Brussels
Ferry..............618 - 786-3636
Mississippi River
Golden Eagle
Ferry ......618- 535-5759
Winfield
Ferry...............618 - 396-2535
Grafton Ferry............... 1-800-258-6645...
Closed for the season
|
|
|
|
Last Weekend's Edition of RiverBills....
Click here for last
weekend's edition of RiverBills
|
|
|
Who's Open.. Who's Closed
|
|
|
|
Who's
Open... Who's Closed........
Big Kahuna.......................
Closed
Boathouse Food &
Deck.... Closed
Cedar Hill
Resort................
Closed
Duck Club Yacht Club ....... Closed
Evandy's Boatel................. Open all year
Froges Bar & Grill.............. Open all Year
Kinder's
Restaurant............
Closed
Longshot
Saloon................ Closed
LaRosa
Cantina.................. Closed
Palisades Yacht
Club......... Closed Dec 19, reopening in Jan 2015
Sundowners.......................
Closed
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
David Berg's Blog
"Great Escape" We are currently "dirt dwellers" but have lived aboard traveling for as long as 7 months at a time.
Click here to go to "Bergs on Great Escape Blog" and read the latest blog
|
|
|
Click
here
to
read Jalsails's
latest
blog
Reprinted
from
Jalsails's
Blog
|
|
|
Sailing on the Mardi Gras Blog
Travels to Key West
My faithful blog follower, little sis Kathy, begged for a new entry....so I'll tear myself away from the sunshine to do a little writing. A lot has happened in the last 10 days or so. We have been marooned in paradise (specifically Bahia Honda State Park--in the Lower Keys) since Saturday the 24th--due to a northerly wind with gusts up to 30mph. The open water was no place to be...just ask sailor cat Pearl. We were enduring a rolly ride up on deck, but poor Pearl was down below howling for me to save her.
Click here to continue reading Barry and Linda's latest blog
|
|
|
|
River
Levels & Water Temp for your phone
River
Levels for Pool 26............
http://www.riverbills.com/River.html
Alton to
Hannibal........................ http://www.riverbills.com/River-Mis.html
Hardin to
Peoria .........................
http://www.riverbills.com/River-Ill.html
Saverton, Louisiana,
Clarksville...
http://www.riverbills.com/River-Lou.html
Add
current "river level" information to your mobile device. All
you need is internet access... Simply add one of the links
shown above
River level information
in the charts is updated every 15 minutes to US Army Corps
of Engineers data
|
|
|
|
Send
Us Your News Tip !
If you see something that
you think your fellow boaters would be interested in, send
us a news tip. Email it to
RiverBill@prodigy.net
and we will get it on-line.
|
|
|
|
River Updates from facebook
Click here to go
to RiverBills List of River facebook pages
in upper left hand column of this page
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
It's
Thursday
29 January 2015
Over 6.87
Million Boater Visits
To
The Always Changing
e-Waters of
RiverBills.com
|
|
|
|
RiverBills Sticker Sighting
Cancun, Mexico
Lisa
Hickey's Birthday
Click pic to enlarge
A
RiverBills' Sticker Sighting....
was sent to us by Lisa Hickey who hails out of The Yacht
Club of St. Louis.
Hi Bill
A few of us were in Cancun recently to celebrate a milestone
birthday.
We went on walk about one day decked out in our Con Trios tees.
I had my River Bill tee and we had a couple RiverBills stickers.
We were quite the site!
See you soon
Lisa
HAPPY BIRTHDAY LISA
|
|
|
|
Sailing on Mardi Gras
Click pic to enlarge
The
Picture of the Day....
was sent to us by Linda Munsell of the sailing ship.....
Mardi Gras
Hi Bill,
Yesterday Barry and Jerry escaped from Bahia. Honda's shallow
entrance with the help of our Canadian friends wake. It's a long
story but we are now at anchor off of Summerland Key and all is
well.
Linda
Mardi Gras
|
|
|
|
Click here
to go to the
Boathouse Food and Deck website
|
|
|
|
Yesteryear's
Picture of
the Day
Boater's
Boats
Click pic to enlarge
The Sailboat
"
Chillaxin"
Catalina 34 "chillaxin"
at Sioux Harbor
Jeri Levesque
s/v
Ex Libris
Check out the BOATER'S BOATS page....
Click here
|
|
|
|
Featured Classifieds
Check
out
MORE BOATS
on the
"All
Classifieds Page"
click here
|
|
|
|
|
|
My River Home
Winterization Forms...
Click here
My River Home
website &
facebook
Longshot Saloon
facebook
The Cabana at the La Rosa
facebook
|
|
|
Click here
to go to
Grafton Harbor's website
618-786-PORT (7678)
|
|
|
|
River News !
|
|
|
|
Water
Patrol Division of Missouri Highway Patrol
No new incident
reports
Click here to go to the Missouri State Highway Patrol
website
|
|
|
River Gear
For Sale............
Click here to
buy your River T-shirts and
Accessories on-line..
Delivered right to you mailbox
in a few short days
|
|
|
|
|
|
Click here to go
to....
|
|
|
|
Updated 22 January
2015
US Army Corps of Engineers
St. Louis District - Weekly Navigation Channel Condition
Mississippi RIver
LOCK 27 CLOSURE SCHEDULE
1/29/15 - 2/13/15 - 0600; 1800 closure - Welding and
Completing Steel Armor Plate. 2/14/15 - 2/15/15 - 0600 -
1800 closure (both days) - Placement of Stone Protection.
Helper boat is provided by the Government during
construction for North bound approaches to the main lock.
Lock 27 Auxiliary Lock will remain closed through 3/20/15
for repairs to embedded steel.
Missouri River
MILE 44.0 - BRIDGE CONSTRUCTION
Daniel Boone Companion Bridge; Superstructure erection is
intermittently ongoing. At times work in the main channel
may require temporarily blocking the river for up to
8-hours, during those periods the alternate channel will be
available for use. Mariners may contact M/V GABRIEL J via
VHF-FM Channels 13 or 16, for more information.
Kaskaskia River
MILE 4.8 - AIDS TO NAVIGATION
Multiple can buoys have been reported not properly marking
the channel and partially submerged in the vicinity of Mile
4.8. Mariners are urged to exercise caution in the area.
Click here
to go to the
US Army Corps of Engineers website for the current
Navigation Channel Condition Status Report
|
|
|
|
Click here..Lewis
Boats Inc website |
|
|
Mississippi River
Television
Reality Show Follows "Modern Day Huck Finns"........
A
reality television series that follows the lives of
a variety of people who livelihoods rely upon the
Mississippi River recently debuted on the History
Channel.
Matthew Mohlke, of Fountain City, Wisconsin, is a
central character on the show "Mississippi Men".
Mohlke is excited and nervous, but he has been in
the public eye before. He has paddled down the
Mississippi River twice, and penned a book about the
experience titled "Floating Down The Country".
At the urging of the show's producers, he remains
mum about his experiences and parts on the show, but
he did reveal that he would be featured throughout
the series around Winona and La Cross........
Click here to read this news story from
lacrossetribune.com. With
Photo.
|
|
|
Woodland Marina
125 Harbor Drive, St. Charles, MO 63301
636-250-3446
Marine Forklift Operator
Woodland Marina is seeking an experienced marine
forklift operator. The position is full time. Summer
season requires being on the job Saturday, Sunday
and some holidays.
Operator is responsible for transporting boats from
rack storage to our launch area and vice versa.
Any marina working experience with skills relating
to boat yard and harbor maintenance helpful. Good
customer service skills are essential.
Please call the office to schedule an interview at
636-250-3446.
All employees are required to pass a background
check and drug testing.
Benefits:
Vacation and personal days – after 1 year service--
5 days
|
|
|
Mississippi River
Reading
"Roadtrip With A Raindrop, 90 Days Along The
Mississippi"
Illustrator and author Gayle Harper came up with a
rather unique idea for the book, "Roadtrip With A
Raindrop, 90 Days Along The Mississippi River", in
which she "follows a raindrop", she named
Serendipity, from the headwaters of the Mississippi
River in Minnesota to it's mouth in Louisiana.
Originally, Harper was thinking along the lines of
documenting the the plant and wildlife naturally
found along the Mississippi River, but then she
realized that the people living in the communities
surrounding the river, and their stories were what
would make up the body of her river story.
Over a 90 day period, Harper travelled the nearly
2,400 mile length of the Mississippi River by car
and boat. She spent time chronicling her journey by
writing and snapping photographs. Over the course
of her journey, Harper enjoyed a variety of
accommodations, including a cabin, a towboat, a
loft, and a 30 room mansion........
Click here to read more from thetelegraph.com.
With Photos.
|
|
|
Good Morning St. Louis!
Join us in collaboration with the #STLBoatShow
in our weekly contest, before the show drops anchor!
Submit your best boating & outdoor
photo below for your chance to win a pair of show
tickets!
ENTER NOW....Click
"Submit Now" above
Winning tickets will be available at
"will call."
See map below
Click map to enlarge
|
|
|
2015 St. Louis Boat and
Sportshow Advance Purchase Discount Tickets
$2.00
Off General Admission, $3.00 Off For
RiverBills' Nite
Click here and purchase your discount tickets
TODAY !
|
|
|
|
REDUCED
WINTER SERVICE RATES
FREE FUEL
GIVEAWAY WINTER SPECIAL
Click ad to enlarge
Click here to go to
Port Charles website
Click here
Port Charles Harbor facebook
|
|
|
Ken
O'Neil Memorial Celebration
Ken O’Neil , Long time River Rat and
friend to many past away last Saturday
unexpectedly . He will be missed greatly
!
There is a memorial celebration in his
honor this Saturday at 1:00PM at the
Boathouse for all who knew and loved him
. .
Thanks,
Dave Vankirk
RiverBill says....
Our prayers and condolences go out to
Ken's family........
|
|
|
Missouri
Department Of Natural Resources
Missouri State Museum Hosting "Missouri River
Relief"........
On February 4, the
Missouri State Museum, at the Missouri State
Capitol in Jefferson City, will be presenting
the "Missouri River Relief" program, as part of
their continuing "Museum After Hours" series.
The event is sponsored by Missouri State Parks,
and will be presented at 7 pm, in the museum
classroom.
The program will
feature representatives from Missouri River
Relief, who will be discussing their grassroots
efforts to connect people with the Missouri
River, via river clean ups, stewardship, and
educational events. Visitors will be educated
on how the river shaped Missouri's culture,
geography, and history.
The Missouri State
Museum's "Museum After Hours" series is held on
the first Wednesday of each month. During the
event, the museum galleries stay open from 5 - 9
pm, allowing people to visit the museum in a
more relaxed atmosphere, and gives them the
opportunity to experience the museum at
night........
Click here to read this news release from
the Missouri Department of Natural Resources
website.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Boat Shows
NMMA: Boat Shows See Increase In Attendance........
Last weekend,
the National Marine Manufacturers Association wrapped up the
third week of the winter boat show season, and overall, 132,191
boating enthusiasts and shoppers attended five of the
Progressive Insurance boat shows.
The New York
Boat Show saw 34,073 visitors over the five days of show, an
increase of 19%. The Louisville Boat, RV & Sport Show drew
35,065 attendees, which was a 4% increase over 2014. The San
Francisco Boat Show brought in 9,169 visitors, an increase of
17% over 2014. The Kansas City Boat & Sports Show attracted
20,241, and the Minneapolis Boat Show saw 33,643 visitors
through the turnstile, both were down 8% from 2014.
The NMMA says
that the initial industry response was unanimous across the
board. The economy, and lower gas prices has increased consumer
confidence. Show attendees went to the shows looking to buy a
boat, and many exhibitors reported sales increases over last
year........
Click here to read this news report from tradeonlytoday.com. |
|
|
|
For Immediate Release
Tiger Docks Adds New Salesperson
 O’FALLON,
MO (January 27, 2015) – Tiger Docks™ has announced the addition
of Lisa Ellis to the sales department.
Ellis comes to Tiger Docks with a background that includes over
20 years in residential sales in various home-related
industries.
“I can’t think of anything more fun and exciting, career-wise,
than helping waterfront residents enhance their property and
make their boating experience more enjoyable,” Ellis said of her
new role in selling boat docks, boat lifts, and marine
accessories.
Ellis has a diverse background in which customer service is the
common thread. She spent 14 years working with contractors and
homeowners in her own professional painting and decorating
company. Additionally, she has experience in account management,
sales and service with fire safety companies in Missouri,
Illinois and Oregon. Ellis is adept in building relationships
with facility managers in larger corporations as well as with
individuals wanting to enhance their living environment and
lifestyle.
“With her background, Lisa is a perfect fit for Tiger Docks,”
said Nick Davis, Tiger Docks president. “She concluded the sale
of her first dock system within 24 hours of starting with us!
Lisa understands customer service. She is a quick study and
immediately knew how to match a residential client with the
Tiger Docks products that will bring fun and enrichment to their
waterfront living experience.”
Headquartered in St. Charles County, Missouri, Tiger Docks has
customers throughout the United States and in several other
countries. Their products and services include floating boat
docks, boat lifts, PWC (personal watercraft) lifts, wakeboarding
water features, dock
accessories, seawall projects, modular steel work barges, and
marina development, with manufacturing and retail space in
O’Fallon, Missouri, and a retail store in Honolulu. For more
information, please visit Tiger Docks at www.tigerdocks.com or
1613 East Terra Lane in O’Fallon, Missouri, or call
636-272-4300.
Reprinted
from Tiger Docks email |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Grafton Weekly Event & Music Calendar
Click here
and check out Grafton's Weekly Event and Music Calendar
Reprinted from a Grafton Chamber of Commerce e-mailing
|
|
|
January 31st
The BoatHouse
Dawn Liston's Birthday
Saturday.....January
31st.....Dawn Listons' Birthday
Doors open at 11:00 AM
Pat Liston plays from 4:00 to
7:00
|
|
|
2015 St. Louis Boat and Sportshow
RiverBills Night..... Thursday, March 5th
RiverBills Night at the 2015
St. Louis Boat & Sportshow is scheduled for
Thursday, March 5th. RiverBills has the lounge area
on the second floor reserved for that night.
The lounge has windows with a view of most of the
show.
We will also be sponsoring
the shuttle vans that pick people up at various
parking lots and deliver them to the America's
Center as well as on-line discount tickets for you
and a ticket give-away photo contest.
Keep your anchor right here
for more details. Looking forward to seeing you
there.
Click here
to go St. Louis boat & Sportshow website
|
|
|
|
RiverBills
Facebook Page
Check out RiverBills
Facebook Page
Click here
|
|
|
|
Click here St. Charles
Boat & Motor website
Click here St. Charles boat & Motor Facebook
|
|
|
U.S. Coast Guard
100th
Anniversary of the "Act To Create The Coast
Guard"........
January 28, 1915 is remembered as an important milestone
in the formation of the modern U.S. Coast Guard. The
Coast Guard is a multi-mission, maritime service, that
was formed by a series of pivotal events, and of a
variety of federal agencies and organizations.
On
January 28, 1915, the Captain-Commandant of the U.S.
Revenue Cutter Service, Ellsworth P. Bertholf, ordered
his Chief Clerk to send radio messages and telegrams to
all stations, offices and cutters around the country
announcing the official creation of the U.S. Coast
Guard.
Captain-Commandant Bertholf and the head of the U.S.
Life-Saving Service, Sumner Kimball, were able to
successfully lobby against the dissolution of both
organizations, by proposing instead to combine the U.S.
Revenue Cutter Service and the U.S. Life-Saving
Service........
Click here to read more from the U.S. Coast Guard
website.
|
|
|
U.S. Army Corps Of
Engineers
Corps Lowering Pomme De Terre Lake To Exterminate
Mussels........
The
U.S. Army Corps of Engineers is gearing up to drop the
level of Pomme De Terre Lake in order to prevent a zebra
mussel invasion. The Corps say that they will be
lowering the lake level by about 3 feet as soon as the
ice melts, perhaps within the next few days.
Officials with the Corps say that zebra mussels were
discovered on a dock that had been relocated from the
Lake of the Ozarks back in December. Zebra mussels are
notorious for clogging the power plant intakes,
disrupting the lake's food chain, and damaging boats.
The
Corps wants to be proactive in fighting the zebra
mussels. They will also be spreading a chemical on
three-quarters of an acre of water to kill the
mussels........
Click here to read this news article from
fox2now.com. With Photo.
|
|
|
Little Black River
In Ripley County, Missouri
Accused Poacher Arrested On The River........
Recently,
Missouri Department of Conservation agents caught an alleged
poacher on the Little Black River in Ripley County,
Missouri.
The MDC
says that the person was in possession of a large number of
illegally gigged bass. The bass were confiscated and
donated to a needy family in the region........
Click here to read this news tidbit from kfvs12.com.
With Photo and Video.
|
|
|
Make
Your
Boat
a
RiverBills
Header
Picture
Make
your
boat
a
RiverBills
header
picture
!
Just
send
us a
shot
of
your
boat,
keeping
in
mind
that
that
the
picture
needs
to
be
proportioned
similar
to
one
above
of
Marty
Haugh's
1967
Lyman.
We
will
crop
it,
add
your
name,
the
boat
name
and
year.
We
have
a
few
boats
from
last
year
that
never
got
posted....
Look
for
them
soon
!
Send
your
pictures
to
riverbill@prodigy.net
|
|
|
River Ferries
Illinois
River
Brussels
Ferry..............618 - 786-3636
Mississippi River
Golden Eagle
Ferry ......618- 535-5759
Winfield
Ferry...............618 - 396-2535
Grafton Ferry............... 1-800-258-6645...
Closed for the season
|
|
|
|
Last Weekend's Edition of RiverBills....
Click here for last
weekend's edition of RiverBills
|
|
|
Who's Open.. Who's Closed
|
|
|
|
Who's
Open... Who's Closed........
Big Kahuna.......................
Closed
Boathouse Food &
Deck.... Closed
Cedar Hill
Resort................
Closed
Duck Club Yacht Club ....... Closed
Evandy's Boatel................. Open all year
Froges Bar & Grill.............. Open all Year
Kinder's
Restaurant............
Closed
Longshot
Saloon................ Closed
LaRosa
Cantina.................. Closed
Palisades Yacht
Club......... Closed Dec 19, reopening in Jan 2015
Sundowners.......................
Closed
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
David Berg's Blog
"Great Escape" We are currently "dirt dwellers" but have lived aboard traveling for as long as 7 months at a time.
Click here to go to "Bergs on Great Escape Blog" and read the latest blog
|
|
|
Click
here
to
continue
reading Jalsails's
latest
blog
Reprinted
from
Jalsails's
Blog
|
|
|
Sailing on the Mardi Gras Blog
Click here to read Barry and Linda's latest blog
|
|
|
|
River
Levels & Water Temp for your phone
River
Levels for Pool 26............
http://www.riverbills.com/River.html
Alton to
Hannibal........................ http://www.riverbills.com/River-Mis.html
Hardin to
Peoria .........................
http://www.riverbills.com/River-Ill.html
Saverton, Louisiana,
Clarksville...
http://www.riverbills.com/River-Lou.html
Add
current "river level" information to your mobile device. All
you need is internet access... Simply add one of the links
shown above
River level information
in the charts is updated every 15 minutes to US Army Corps
of Engineers data
|
|
|
|
Send
Us Your News Tip !
If you see something that
you think your fellow boaters would be interested in, send
us a news tip. Email it to
RiverBill@prodigy.net
and we will get it on-line.
|
|
|
|
River Updates from facebook
Click here to go
to RiverBills List of River facebook pages
in upper left hand column of this page
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
It's
Wednesday
28 January 2015
Over 6.87
Million Boater Visits
To
The Always Changing
e-Waters of
RiverBills.com
|
|
|
|
Picture of the Day
The Majestic Beauty of
Our River
Click pic to enlarge
The
Picture of the Day....
was sent to us by Jan Desherlia of Grafton Harbor
Hi Bill and River Friends!!
We hope that you are all doing great!! So many of you have
stopped in over
the winter and it is a breath of fresh air to see you all. JUST
THINK
SPRING!! Attached is a picture of a Mississippi Sunrise.
The majestic beauty of our river!!
Joe and Jan DeSherlia
Grafton
Harbor
|
|
|
|
Picture of the Day
Our River
Click pic to enlarge
The
Picture of the Day....
was sent to us by Tom mar who hails out of the Yacht Club of St.
Louis in the boat..... "GREAT ESCAPE"
Bill,
I sent you a picture last week and saw it on RiverBills, very
cool. I did mean to send this picture, that has the power plant
in the background. Hope everyone enjoys it.
Lynne and I will be back at St Louis Yacht Club this season in
the "GREAT ESCAPE"
Hope to see you on the beach.
Tom Marstall
|
|
|
|
River Rat Sighting
Goodland, Florida
Click pic to enlarge
A
River Rat Sighting....
was sent to us by Capt'n Ronnie Stevens who hails out of
the Yacht Club of St. Louis in the boat...... Summer
Breeze
Bill,
Linda and I and Greg and Rita went to the one and only
STAN's at Goodland
for the
31st annual Mullet festival. Among the several thousand
folks there we ran into Joyce and Ernie, Larry and Pattie, Dave
and Dave.
St Louis was well represented.
Ron
|
|
|
|
Click here
to go to the
Boathouse Food and Deck website
|
|
|
|
Yesteryear's
Picture of
the Day
click pic to enlarge
Yesteryear's
Pictures
of the Day in
2014.......
were sent to us by Robert and Cheri who hail out of North
Shore Marina in the cruiser........ Indecision
River Bill,
Just thought I would share some beautiful pictures for everyone
to enjoy. We just love the beautiful winter scenery this time of
year. I have never experienced anything like this. The beauty
and the wild life I have seen is just phenomenal! Pick and
choose what you would like to post just had to share!!!
Robert and Cheri
Hail out of North Shore Marina with Indecision
|
|
|
|
Featured Classifieds
Check
out
MORE BOATS
on the
"All
Classifieds Page"
click here
|
|
|
|
|
|
My River Home
Winterization Forms...
Click here
My River Home
website &
facebook
Longshot Saloon
facebook
The Cabana at the La Rosa
facebook
|
|
|
Click here
to go to
Grafton Harbor's website
618-786-PORT (7678)
|
|
|
|
River News !
|
|
|
|
Water
Patrol Division of Missouri Highway Patrol
No new incident
reports
Click here to go to the Missouri State Highway Patrol
website
|
|
|
River Gear
For Sale............
Click here to
buy your River T-shirts and
Accessories on-line..
Delivered right to you mailbox
in a few short days
|
|
|
|
|
|
Click here to go
to....
|
|
|
|
Updated 22 January
2015
US Army Corps of Engineers
St. Louis District - Weekly Navigation Channel Condition
Mississippi RIver
LOCK 27 CLOSURE SCHEDULE
1/29/15 - 2/13/15 - 0600; 1800 closure - Welding and
Completing Steel Armor Plate. 2/14/15 - 2/15/15 - 0600 -
1800 closure (both days) - Placement of Stone Protection.
Helper boat is provided by the Government during
construction for North bound approaches to the main lock.
Lock 27 Auxiliary Lock will remain closed through 3/20/15
for repairs to embedded steel.
Missouri River
MILE 44.0 - BRIDGE CONSTRUCTION
Daniel Boone Companion Bridge; Superstructure erection is
intermittently ongoing. At times work in the main channel
may require temporarily blocking the river for up to
8-hours, during those periods the alternate channel will be
available for use. Mariners may contact M/V GABRIEL J via
VHF-FM Channels 13 or 16, for more information.
Kaskaskia River
MILE 4.8 - AIDS TO NAVIGATION
Multiple can buoys have been reported not properly marking
the channel and partially submerged in the vicinity of Mile
4.8. Mariners are urged to exercise caution in the area.
Click here
to go to the
US Army Corps of Engineers website for the current
Navigation Channel Condition Status Report
|
|
|
|
Click here..Lewis
Boats Inc website |
|
|
Mississippi River At St. Louis, Missouri
Southern Stretch Of The Riverfront
Re-Opening........
The Great Rivers Greenway has announced that the
southern portion of Leonor K. Sullivan
Boulevard, along the Mississippi River at St.
Louis, will be re-opening on Friday.
This portion of Leonor K. Sullivan Boulevard has
been closed since the Arch Grounds renovation
project began. The renovated portion of the
boulevard runs from the middle of the Grand
Staircase below the Arch, southward to just past
the Poplar Street Bridge.
As the southern portion of Leonor K. Sullivan
reopens on Friday, the northern section, from
the middle of the Grand Staircase to Carr Street
will be shut down. The closures are not
expected to interfere with other riverfront
attractions........
Click here to read this news story from
stltoday.com.
|
|
|
Mississippi River
Near Alton, Illinois
Alton Water Ski Club Struggling To Remain
Afloat........
Since 1955, the Alton Water Ski Club has been a
fixture on the Mississippi River in the region
surrounding St. Louis. The club members perform
on the Mississippi River on the 4th of July, and
on New Year's Day. They also perform for
charity, as well as competing for regional
titles.
These days, however, the club is fighting for
survival. Membership has plummeted from 60
members to about 12, and the droughts and
flooding in recent years has kept the club off
the water. The club owns a clubhouse, which is
mainly used for storage, but members pay about
$12,000 in annual property taxes. This puts a
dent in their charitable efforts, which is
skiing events for disabled skiers, and people
with Down's Syndrome.
The club has a plan to rehabilitate the
clubhouse, so it can be rented out as a 2 - 4
bedroom home that features a fantastic view. In
order to get the rehab project off the ground,
they are looking for help with lumber, drywall,
electrical materials, and other
construction-related items. Club President,
Norman Rhae says that they have the manpower,
and they are all chipping in to keep the club
going........
Click here to read this news report from
fox2now.com.
With Video.
|
|
|
Good Morning St. Louis!
Join us in collaboration with the #STLBoatShow
in our weekly contest, before the show drops anchor!
Submit your best boating & outdoor
photo below for your chance to win a pair of show
tickets!
Submit your
photo with the "Submit Now" link above
|
|
|
2015 St. Louis Boat and
Sportshow Advance Purchase Discount Tickets
$2.00
Off General Admission, $3.00 Off For
RiverBills' Nite
Click here and purchase your discount tickets
TODAY !
|
|
|
2015 St. Louis Boat and
Sportshow Photo Contest Entires
Check out
the first entries for two free tickets to the 2015
Progressive Insurance St. Louis Boat and Sportshow.......
click here
Click
here
to submit your entry !
|
|
|
|
REDUCED
WINTER SERVICE RATES
FREE FUEL
GIVEAWAY WINTER SPECIAL
Click ad to enlarge
Click here to go to
Port Charles website
Click here
Port Charles Harbor facebook
|
|
|
Ken
O'Neil Memorial Celebration
Ken O’Neil , Long time River Rat and
friend to many past away last Saturday
unexpectedly . He will be missed greatly
!
There is a memorial celebration in his
honor this Saturday at 1:00PM at the
Boathouse for all who knew and loved him
. .
Thanks,
Dave Vankirk
RiverBill says....
Our prayers and condolences go out to
Ken's family........
|
|
|
Lake Of The Ozarks
Officials Taking Another Look Into Suspect's
Drowning........
A special prosecutor is going to be taking
another look into the drowning death of a
handcuffed suspect, who went overboard as a
Missouri State Highway Patrol boat was
transporting him. 20 year old Brandon Ellingson
had been arrested for boating while intoxicated,
placed in handcuffs, and then fitted with a life
vest with armholes that could not be secured on
a person in handcuffs.
Prosecutor Amanda Grellner says that she is
reviewing the case after new information has
come to light. She had declined to press
charges against Missouri State Highway Patrol
Trooper Anthony Piercy, after a coroner's
inquest ruled that Ellingson's death on May 31,
2014 on the Lake of the Ozarks was an accident.
In recent weeks, the Highway Patrol has
interviewed witnesses again, including a family
that saw Ellingson in the water as his life vest
floated away. Grellner would not expand on what
aspects of the investigation she is reviewing
nor would she make public comments about
specific parts of the investigation........
Click here to read this news report from
lakeexpo.com.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
News
Release From BoatUS
In Rare Act of Agreement,
Last Congress Does The Right Thing For Boat Owners
Tax Provisions for Boats Extended
 WASHINGTON,
DC, January 27, 2015 -- In an exceptional act of agreement, the
recently departed 113th Congress did the right thing for boat
owners. It extended some boat sales tax and mortgage interest
deductions when filing a 2014 federal income tax return. The
catch is a boat has to include a sleeping berth, cooking and
toilet facilities, and is offered to new owners who paid
substantial state sales taxes on a new or used boat purchase
last year. If there is a loan taken, mortgage interest paid on
the loan may be also be deducted from your federal income taxes,
according to the nation’s largest boater’s advocacy group, Boat
Owners Association of The United States (BoatUS).
The Sales Tax Deduction
The Tax Increase Prevention Act of 2014 continues to offer a
federal tax deduction for state sales taxes. Boaters must choose
either the state sales tax deduction or state income tax
deduction on their federal tax return — you cannot take both
In addition, to take the state sales tax deduction, the sales
tax on a boat purchase must be applied at the same tax rate as
the state’s general sales tax. In order to claim the sales tax
deduction, tax returns must be itemized. State sales taxes are
entered on IRS form Schedule A, line 5b.
The Boat Loan Deduction
For those owners with a secured boat loan, mortgage interest
paid on the loan may be deducted from your federal income taxes.
Taxpayers may use the home mortgage interest deduction for one
second home in addition to their primary home, and must itemize
deductions on their returns. A boat is considered a second home
for federal tax purposes if it has a galley, an installed head
and sleeping berth.
During federal budget negotiations last year, some in Congress
sought to eliminate this deduction for boat owners while keeping
it in place for second home and recreational vehicle owners.
BoatUS advocated for a more equitable all-or-nothing approach
when applying the deduction, and boaters did not get unfairly
singled out.
Some boaters may be unaware of this potential tax benefit
because not all lending institutions send borrowers an Internal
Revenue Service form 1098 which reports the interest paid. Not
receiving the form does not preclude taking the deduction. If a
1098 is not available, boaters should contact their lender for
the amount of interest paid and should enter it on line 11 on
Schedule A along with the lender’s tax ID number. If a form 1098
is sent, boaters should simply enter the amount on line 10 of
Schedule A.
Sorry, AMT
For those who fall under the Alternative Minimum Tax, most
deductions are unavailable. Boaters are urged to contact a tax
preparer or financial advisor for more information.
For more details on the mortgage deduction on boats that
qualify, go to www.IRS.gov and download Publication 936 or the
Fact Sheets. For state tax deduction information, download
Publication 600 which also includes state-by-state tax tables
This press
release reprinted by permission of Scott Croft of BoatUS.
|
|
|
Boating Retailer
Fire Destroys Tennessee Boating Retailer, $1
Million In Damages........
At around 6 pm
Sunday night, fire destroyed boat retailer,
Watson's Marine, in Bluff City, Tennessee. The
manager of Watson's Marine, Rex Pendergrass,
says that the building is totaled.
There were seven
boats, and a considerable amount of fishing gear
inside the building when the fire broke out.
The boats were valued at about $50,000, and all
that remains is melted fishing rods.
Pendergrass says
that the fire could not have come at a worse
time, as it is nearly time for their season to
begin. He added that the dealership was heavily
stocked, as their annual open house is but a
week and a half away........
Click here to read this news story form
wcyb.com. With Photo.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
January 31st
The BoatHouse
Dawn Liston's Birthday
Saturday.....January
31st.....Dawn Listons' Birthday
Doors open at 11:00 AM
Pat Liston plays from 4:00 to
7:00
|
|
|
2015 St. Louis Boat and Sportshow
RiverBills Night..... Thursday, March 5th
RiverBills Night at the 2015
St. Louis Boat & Sportshow is scheduled for
Thursday, March 5th. RiverBills has the lounge area
on the second floor reserved for that night.
The lounge has windows with a view of most of the
show.
We will also be sponsoring
the shuttle vans that pick people up at various
parking lots and deliver them to the America's
Center as well as on-line discount tickets for you
and a ticket give-away photo contest.
Keep your anchor right here
for more details. Looking forward to seeing you
there.
Click here
to go St. Louis boat & Sportshow website
|
|
|
|
RiverBills
Facebook Page
Check out RiverBills
Facebook Page
Click here
|
|
|
|
Click here St. Charles
Boat & Motor website
Click here St. Charles boat & Motor Facebook
|
|
|
Black River Near
Bismarck, Missouri
Missing Man's Body Found In The River........
On Saturday, the body of a man that had been missing
since October was discovered in the Black River on
Saturday, near the Markham Springs Recreation Area.
On Monday, officials identified the body as that of 53
year old Kenneth Willard of Wayne County. It is
reported that Willard died as a result of a gunshot
wound to the head.
Willard was last seen at a
gas station while he was on a hunting trip. Foul play
is suspected........
Click here to read this news tidbit from
stltoday.com.
|
|
|
Panama Canal
Dredging The Panama Canal........
Each day, crews work on
dredging the Panama Canal to ensure vessels transiting
the canal are safe. Also, dredging is a major component
of the Panama Canal Expansion Program.
The expansion of the Panama
Canal began back in 2007, with a total cost of $5.2
billion. The project creates a new traffic lane in the
canal through the construction of new locks, effectively
doubling the capacity of the canal.
Once the Panama Canal
expansion project is completed, Post-Panamax vessels
will be able to transit the canal, with up to 13,000
TEUs........
Click here to read this news article from
dredgingtoday.com. With Photo.
A TEU refers to a Twenty-foot Equivalent Unit, which is
an imprecise unit of cargo capacity, typically used to
describe the capacity of a cargo ship of shipping
container........ Source: Wikipedia Online
Encyclopedia.
Click here to read more
|
|
|
Make
Your
Boat
a
RiverBills
Header
Picture
Make
your
boat
a
RiverBills
header
picture
!
Just
send
us a
shot
of
your
boat,
keeping
in
mind
that
that
the
picture
needs
to
be
proportioned
similar
to
one
above
of
Marty
Haugh's
1967
Lyman.
We
will
crop
it,
add
your
name,
the
boat
name
and
year.
We
have
a
few
boats
from
last
year
that
never
got
posted....
Look
for
them
soon
!
Send
your
pictures
to
riverbill@prodigy.net
|
|
|
River Ferries
Illinois
River
Brussels
Ferry..............618 - 786-3636
Mississippi River
Golden Eagle
Ferry ......618- 535-5759
Winfield
Ferry...............618 - 396-2535
Grafton Ferry............... 1-800-258-6645...
Closed for the season
|
|
|
|
Last Weekend's Edition of RiverBills....
Click here for last
weekend's edition of RiverBills
|
|
|
Who's Open.. Who's Closed
|
|
|
|
Who's
Open... Who's Closed........
Big Kahuna.......................
Closed
Boathouse Food &
Deck.... Closed
Cedar Hill
Resort................
Closed
Duck Club Yacht Club ....... Closed
Evandy's Boatel................. Open all year
Froges Bar & Grill.............. Open all Year
Kinder's
Restaurant............
Closed
Longshot
Saloon................ Closed
LaRosa
Cantina.................. Closed
Palisades Yacht
Club......... Closed Dec 19, reopening in Jan 2015
Sundowners.......................
Closed
|
|
|
|
Your Eye on the River
|
|
|
|
The Boathouse Food and Deck
WebCam
Mississippi River on Dardenne
Slough UMR 222.2
|
|
|
|
RiverBills Two Branch Area
WebCam
Mississippi River UMR 231.5
The
Webcams above upload a new picture every 6 minutes..
Hit
refresh to update to the latest picture
Go to
www.RiverWebCams.com
for the last 10 pictures from all the above cameras!
|
|
|
|
Polestar
Boating Center
River
Weather Station
History for weather station KMOSTCHA4...Polestar Boating
Center, St.Charles, MO..
Click here
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
David Berg's Blog
"Great Escape" We are currently "dirt dwellers" but have lived aboard traveling for as long as 7 months at a time.
Click here to go to "Bergs on Great Escape Blog" and read the latest blog
|
|
|
Click
here
to
read Jalsails's
latest
blog
Reprinted
from
Jalsails's
Blog
|
|
|
|
|
~~~ RiverBill's Archives~~~
go 
