~~~~~~ RiverBill's Archives~~~~~~
~~~A WEBSITE FOR THE ALTON POOL BOATING COMMUNITY ON THE MISSISSIPPI RIVER~~~


 Friday June 30, 2006  ..... 

Our Picture & E-mail Of The Day -----  is from Captain Darryll Weil, who hails out of Woodland Marina in the boat named "After You".  

 

Darryll wrote in his e-mail;

 

Bill,

   The Delmar Gardens Nursing Home in Fenton has a fireworks display the Wednesday before the Fourth every year.  My brother DJ and his wife Trish live about 400 feet from where they launch the fireworks.  We sat on their deck and they literally exploded right over us!  I put together a collage of some of the better pics I got.  Thought it would be a good prequel to the upcoming weekend.

Darryll

 

RiverBill says...Wow ------Happy 4th of July to everyone !

Last Year's River Picture On This Day ------ What the heck was the picture on RiverBills.com last year on this day ?   

  It was a picture sent in by Bert Yates.  "Here’s a sight not often seen on the Upper Miss.  The bright white cylinders laying on their side are two of the four steam generators being replaced at Callaway during last fall’s outage.  The trip started from Chalon, France on May 12th and they arrived at Callaway’s Missouri River docking facility on June 21st.   Each steam generator weighs in at a svelte 371.5 tons, not including the packing and shipping containers.  Not quite what Mike Tyson tipped the scales for his last fight, but definitely in the heavyweight class! "

  Thanks for the picture and the interesting narrative  Bert.

Help Watch Over Your Fellow River Friends ------ I know of 3 River people that we have lost in the very recent history due to drinking and driving !   It's a shame and such a waste !  

   You and I can do something ........Stop your friends from driving on the roads or on the water when they have had to much to drink !  

River Bill

Fishing Report  ------ The Missouri Department of Conservation has issued this week's Fishing Report.  

Mississippi River (above St. Louis):

74 degrees, low, dingy; all species slow. (Report made on 6/29/2006)

Missouri River (below New Haven)

76 Degrees, low dingy, catfish good on natural baits; all other species fair  (Report made on 6/29/06)

 

Check out the report for the entire state of Missouri

.................go to  http://www.mdc.mo.gov/fish/fishrt/

Timber Ridge Condo's in Grafton, IL

3 units available, all ADA Compliant

Call Sue Ferguson for details

(618) 593-7059 cell

Puppy Found ------ at Winneberg on 6/26/06, 1 mile upriver from Kinder’s Restaurant.  The puppy is a mostly white, mixed breed with no I.D., approximately 4-5 months old.   Call (618) 883-2467.  EMAIL:  dkskarstad@frontiernet.net

Thank you.

Kathy & Dave

 P.S.  The puppy is precious

 Thursday June 29, 2006  ..... 

CLICK ON PICTURE TO ENLARGE

Our Picture Of The Day -----  is from Captain Tony Trice.  It's a shot of the work going on just up the hill from the Grafton Harbor at the Timber Ridge Condo's

 

RiverBill says...Thanks for the picture Tony !

Last Year's River Picture On This Day ------ What the heck was the picture on RiverBills.com last year on this day ?   

  It was a picture of Tony and Carole Bindbeuter's boat,  named

 "CHANGE IN LATITUDE".............The name says it all - - Jimmy would love it ! 

CLICK ON PICTURE TO ENLARGE 

Ready to Race in Texas ------ Little John from Big Dicks Half Way In Racing wrote us the following e-mail: 

 

Bill

After a pretty nasty issue with my back, and thanks to Dr. John Spraul (Docs nephew)

for getting me back on my feet, we are ready to load the rig and head back to Texas.

Keith, Ashly, and myself are leaving early on Friday morning to race on Sat. and Sun.

 

WISH US LUCK

                             Little John

 

River Bill says....Glad your back is feeling better John.....

                         Go get um ...And be safe !

Help Watch Over Your Fellow River Friends ------ I know of 3 River people that we have lost in the very recent history due to drinking and driving !   It's a shame and such a waste !  

   You and I can do something ........Stop your friends from driving on the roads or on the water when they have had to much to drink !  

River Bill

Puppy Found ------ at Winneberg on 6/26/06, 1 mile upriver from Kinder’s Restaurant.  The puppy is a mostly white, mixed breed with no I.D., approximately 4-5 months old.   Call (618) 883-2467.  EMAIL:  dkskarstad@frontiernet.net

Thank you.

Kathy & Dave

 P.S.  The puppy is precious

 Wednesday June 28, 2006  ..... 

CLICK ON PICTURE TO ENLARGE

Our Picture and E-mail Of The Day -----  is from Captain Darryll Weil, who hails out of Woodland Marina in the boat "After You".  Darryll updated his website with some pictures from the Grafton Towboat Festival.

 

 Darryll wrote in his e-mail:

 

Went up to the river over the weekend.  George and Nancy came up on Saturday and we took a "2 Hour Cruise" because you know what happens if you take a "3 Hour Cruise"!  Then we took the Grafton Ferry over to the Towboat Festival held at The Loading Dock in Grafton, went to the Wild Goose Saloon for Awesome Cheeseburgers and then to the Aries Winery.  Got back to the marina and found Crusher and Penny helping Gary and Sue ready their slip for the new boat.  Sunday we headed up to Two Branch Island and anchored out with Gary and Kathleen on their houseboat, "River Dreams"  Weather was picture perfect all weekend and it's great to see the new boat next to us in the dock.  Click on the link below to see all the pics.  Scroll down on each picture to see slide show controls and read the comments.

Mississippi, June 24th & 25th, 2006

or go to my homepage and link from there

www.captainweil.com

 

Enjoy, Darryll

 

 

RiverBill says.....Thanks for the pictures Darryll !

Last Year's River Picture On This Day ------ What the heck was the picture on RiverBills.com last year on this day ?   

  It was a picture of  the "Carrie Mays" heading up-river with a load of rip rap passing the bluffs near Elsa, IL.  Picture by Robert Cope of the boat "Slow Ride".

Puppy Found ------ at Winneberg on 6/26/06, 1 mile upriver from Kinder’s Restaurant.  The puppy is a mostly white, mixed breed with no I.D., approximately 4-5 months old.   Call (618) 883-2467.  EMAIL:  dkskarstad@frontiernet.net

Thank you.

Kathy & Dave

 P.S.  The puppy is precious

Update...Towboat America and Golden Rod Showboat ------ Captain George Shindel was in his land cruiser this past weekend and past by the Towboat America and the Golden Rod Showboat.  Both are still moored up-river from the Kampsville Ferry.  Looks like the Towboat America has some new windows, but no apparent signs of work on the outside of the vessel... still rusting away.  

  No apparent signs of work going on on the outside of the Golden Rod Showboat either..

 

RiverBill says....Thanks for the report George !

Con Trios Yacht Club's Moonlight Cruise ------ is Saturday, July 22 on the Grafton Ferry....10:30 PM until  1:30 AM....Music by Rail 

 

Click here for more info.

CLICK ON PICTURE TO ENLARGE

File Photo by Steve Schulte 

Boat on the Riverbend  ------ According to an article in the on-line Alton Telegraph ......The Boat At The RiverBend, which is a new dinning and banquet complex on the riverfront in Alton, IL opened yesterday.    Go to the on-line Alton Telegraph for the complete story.

Blessing of the Fleet Enters 49th Year

…With a Few Changes

 Boating enthusiasts anticipate the annual Blessing of the Fleet to be held this year on Sunday, July 16th.  This years Parade of Boats and Blessing of the Fleet honors tradition, but a few changes have been made to the route to accommodate ease in participation and encourage attendance.  The decorating theme for this year is “Vacation Fun Under the St. Louis Sun”, allowing participants to promote their favorite St. Louis Summertime event or activity, sport or recreation thru creatively decorating their vessels to this theme.  For example, the St. Louis Zoo, Forest Park, The Munie, Baseball Cardinals, or New Bush Stadium, some may choose places like Six Flags, The Arch or Missouri Wine Country to name a few.  Participating vessels may gather at the parade origin, Yacht Club of St. Louis, St. Charles, or may join the parade in progress at the end of the line as it passes each harbor along the route.  Parade Patrol boats will be stationed along the route and available for assistance where needed. Use your creative talent in decorating with your favorite theme include music and costume, join the fun to “WOW” the Judges and win a memorable prize while enjoying a festive and most enjoyable day on the water with family and friends.

 Launching at 1 PM on Sunday, July 16th from Yacht Club of St. Louis, the boats proceed downstream in main channel of the Mississippi River, single file, to mile 221.2 where it turns toward the Missouri shore, proceeding upstream, 50’ between each boat, to pass at approximately 2:15 PM the Shrine of Our Lady of the River where the priest Fr. Robert Banken, of St. Francis of Assisi, Portage de Sioux will bless each boat.  Immediately following the blessing, the parade continues upstream past the VIP Boat and Judges Boat for Review and disburses on  to Grafton Harbor for Announcement of Winners, Awards Presentation and Festivities immediately following the Blessing. Docking and Assistance is available to all Finalists at Grafton Harbor where refreshments are available and the Final Winners will be announced!  Look for Our New Flyers they are available at Your Harbors.

 The Shrine honors the memory of the 1951 flood that nearly swallowed the tiny town of Portage des Sioux.  Residents prayed to Mary, “The Lady of the Rivers”, and watched as the waters slowly receded.  Moved by the miracle, the residents and local businesses erected a shrine in 1957.  A several years ago, the famous traveler, Lowell Thomas, and the nations’ top newspaper editors, picked 43 places of interest, as suggested vacation destinations for Americans to visit.  The Shrine of Our Lady of the Rivers was included.  Veteran river people say there is no more beautiful sight, from Minneapolis to New Orleans, than this area of Portage des Sioux with the Shrine and palisades on the opposite side of the river.

Click for flyer......Side one...Side two

 

The Blessing of the Fleet, Inc., is a nonprofit organization dedicated to boating safety.

 Tuesday June 27, 2006  ..... 

CLICK ON PICTURE TO ENLARGE

 

First Annual Casey Cruise ...........  

 

Jan Williams of Williams Marine Clean wrote:

Hi again Bill

  Our dear nephew, Casey Williams and his best friend Brandon Travis were tragically taken from us last Wednesday in a car accident.  They both worked at Lake Center Marina and were true "river rats".  Today the Williams family and some close friends went on our first annual " Casey Cruise", and here we are,  all giving Casey our "Williams wave".  He will truly be missed.

 

Thanks Bill

Jan Williams

Last Year's River Picture On This Day ------ What the heck was the picture on RiverBills.com last year on this day ?   

  It was a picture of some of the  boats at Hat Island early last Saturday while parking spots were still plentiful.   Up on the hill is another one of those houses with a great view of the river.

Levees  ------ There was an article in the on-line Post Dispatch about a new federal study proclaiming that stronger levees along the upper Mississippi and Illinois Rivers would not justify the expense.   Go to STLtoday.com for the complete story.

Great Rivers Towboat Festival  ------ There was an article in the on-line Alton Telegraph about the Great Rivers Towboat Festival that took place in Grafton, IL last weekend.   Go to the on-line Alton Telegraph for the complete story.

Illinois Department of Natural Resources - Fishing Report.........Found another fishing report dated June 24 for the  Mississippi River with a lot more information than the Friday report.

Take a look.

FISHING AREA: Mississippi River - Lower Pool 26 - Alton

WATER CONDITIONS: Water levels are up. Fish are biting on everything everywhere. You can't go wrong unless you don't go fishing.

FISH: Crappie ... Slower; Fish have completing their spawn; lower a jig and minnow near weed line cover or brush piles in deeper water.

FISh: Bluegill ... Excellent; Fish are completing their spawn; you can't go wrong with your choice of bait; red wigglers, wax worms, and crickets are getting bites. Fun activity.

FISH: Bass ... Good; Fish have completed spawning and moving into deeper water. Use flukes in the a.m. hours, jigs during mid day, and buzz baits during evening hours.

FISH: Channel Catfish ... Excellent; Fish are completing their spawning; use cut shad, skip jack or worms off the bank near bedding areas.

FISh: Blue and Flathead Catfish ... Excellent; skip jack or cut shad are producing in deep water.

NOTE: Bluff City Tackle at Alton has everything you need for a successful fishing trip. Go see Robert at Bluff City Tackle in Alton for current fishing information. They have very helpful and friendly service

 

FISHING AREA: Mississippi River - Lower Pool 25 - Upper Pool 26 - Grafton Area

WATER CONDITIONS: Water levels are high, but fishing is real good; should be a record weekend.

FISH: Crappie ... Good; fish are ready to spawn and are on nests; put minnows on your hook under a bobber in the shallower backwater areas.

FISH: Bluegill .. Good; Hot spot is Calhoun Point; night crawlers under a bobber are getting attention in 2 to 4 feet of water in the backwater areas.

FISH: Catfish ... Good;Sonny's stink bait is producing; trot lines are also successful.

FISH: White Perch ... Good; continue to fish with worms from a pole and line from the river bank.

NOTE: Cassens Bait Shop at Grafton has fresh bait and needed fishing supplies. Take your family fishing

 

FISHING AREA: Mississippi river - Pool 25 to Pool 26

WATER CONDITIONS: Water levels are steady and clear; fishing is good; don't miss out on a fantastic fishing weekend.

FISH: Crappie ... Good; anglers are successful using minnows for bait; fish are ready to spawn when warmer weather arrives this weekend.

FISH: Bluegill ... Good; continue to use crickets; also try a night crawler in the backwater areas; males are interested in making beds as the temperatures warm up.

FISh: Stripers ... Good; A 20 pounder was reportedly caught this past week; fish are biting on minnows near the weed lines or cover.

FISH: Sturgeon ... Good: minnows on the hook are producing.

FISH: Catfish ... Good; good sized fish are interested in Sonny's stink bait, crawdads, neon night crawlers or night crawlers.

For the complete report go to http://www.ifishillinois.org

 Monday June 26, 2006  ..... 

Kinder's new deck all decorated and decked out !.

Jill, Katie Kruze and Amanda

The KSHE 95 van

Our River Pictures Of The Day...........  are a few from Saturday's Hawaiian Luau Party at Kinder's Restaurant with KSHE 95 radio personality Katie Kruze .  

 

Click here for more party pictures !

Last Year's River Picture On This Day ------ What the heck was the picture on RiverBills.com last year on this day ?   

  It was a picture of  some  boaters at Hat Island.  Hat Island is on the Illinois side of the river at the approximately the UMR 235 mile marker.

  Sunday June 25, 2006  ..... 

Our Sunday River Picture ...And... E-mail Of The Day...........  was sent in by Mark Newlin who can be seen up around Two Branch Island in paddling around in his red kayak.   In my last e-mail to him, I ask Mark where he lived.....He replied yesterday with the following e-mail:

   

Bill, 

  We live down in Fenton, I park on the Golden eagle ferry road and head upstream, made it up around Hat a few times, only made it up to top of two branch today, wind was up.   We.re right behind George Winter Park and am spittin disatance from Meramec river. 

  

This is Karen in her Sit on top style kayak in the park.

 

Mark Newlin

 

RiverBill says.......Keep on kayaking Mark and Karen !   I will stop and say hello next time I see ya out there.......

Last Year's River Picture On This Day (Sunday)------ What the heck was the picture on RiverBills.com last year on this day ?   

  It was a picture of  Denise, Laura and Dave   at the new Tiki Bar at Captain Jacks Restaurant.   With the Dardenne Slough right there it looks like a it will be a fine place to have a beverage and watch the river flow.   The new Captains Jacks was North Shore.  My friend Dave said "There has been more construction here in last 24 days than there has been here in the last 24 years !"    A lot of changes are taking place.  Click here for a picture of the front of the restaurant and one from the riverside dining area looking towards the river.

 Saturday June 24..... 

Our Saturday River Pictures ...And... E-mail Of The Day...........  were sent in by Kurt Jaeger, of the boat "Patricia Ann".  A beautiful sunset and a sky of red and yellow reflecting on the water....Wow !

 

Kurt wrote in his e-mail:

 

Bill,

    This is the first time I have sent pictures to RiverBills.  Took these last night......( 06-20-06)...... while listening to the Cardinals game (what a disaster).  Anchored near river mile 212.  I visit your site daily.  Keep it up.

 

Kurt Jaeger

vessel "Patricia Ann"

 

RiverBill says.......Thanks for the great sunset pictures Kurt... Keep them coming !

FYI - Mile 212 is near the "Lady of The Rivers" at Portage Des Sioux..

Our 2nd Saturday River Picture Of The Day...........  is of (left to right) Laura, with Rick and Mary, who hail out of Two Branch Marina, on the new deck at Kinder's Restaurant last Saturday evening.  

Last Year's River Picture On This Day ------(Saturday) What the heck was the picture on RiverBills.com last year on this day ?   

  It was a picture of some  river maintenance   going on by the power lines in Dardenne Slough.  Scott Wolf, of the Sand Bar Restaurant, told me that he talked to one of the workers and was told they are shoring up the river bank by the power lines on both sides of the slough.   Scott was also told that there will be a protrusion out into the slough when all is done.   Thanks for the info Scott.       The power lines cross the slough at approximately the UMR 224.8 mile marker.  .

Saturday, June 24  & Sunday, June  25   

  Towboat Festival

Grafton, IL

 

Tour fully operational towboats 

Blues, BBQ and Beer

Saturday, June 24    

My River Home & Longshot Saloon... Poker Run

Continental Breakfast

T-Shirts

Decal

Shrimp at Cedar hill

BBQ Dinner at Longshots

 

 Click here for more info.

Saturday, June 24 

Alton Block Party - Starts at 4 PM

Bone Daddy and the Shakers  7PM - 10:30PM

 

FIRST ANNUAL LOCK AND DAM 23 SANDBAR PARTY IS TODAY ! 

 

FIRST ANNUAL LOCK AND DAM 23 SANDBAR PARTY: 

Approximately Mile Marker 290, or the new north sandbar.  June 24th, all day events sponsored by TRBC.  This is the summer event you don’t want to miss.  Other boat clubs have been invited.   Among the activities planned by our Entertainment Committee (round of applause please):

  • Mississippi Riverbottom Queen Contest:  Men only.  (I don’t know the rules on this one but it sounds like it has possibilities). 

  • Whiffleball Contest

  • Volleyball Tournament

  • Election Lock and Dam 23 Harbor Master

  • Many more activities as well….

TRBC will be serving food for a very reasonable cost.  The menu available should be something along the line of hamburgers, porkburgers and brats.  There is the possibility of purchasing a commemorative cup for the occasion for a reasonable fee.  Contents to fill the cup with will be donated by the Boat Club such as margaritas, daiquiris etc.  As this will be the first time we have celebrated Lock and Dam 23 with a sandbar party, there will be special t-shirts printed up and available for the event as well.

The band for the event, Hand over Fist, will begin playing about 8:00 p.m.  Donations will be accepted from the audience to help support cost of the band.

 

Note:  The Corps of Engineers in its infinite wisdom dispensed with plans for Lock and Dam 23, so it does not truly exist in the physical sense.  Dams 22 and 24 are in a fine state of existence.  This party is being held as close to the nonexistent location of the proposed Lock and Dam 23 as is possible, to celebrate the fact it was never built.

 

Jaime Carroll

217-437-2321

Wanted.......One of our readers is looking for a club house or river home that is ....... for rent .....or..... for sale.  

Send e-mail with info to:

riverbill@prodigy.net ....and I will pass the information to them.

Fireworks & July 3 & 4  Business Hours... Cedar Hill.........

Fireworks on the Sat. the 1st of July.   (If it rains they will be held Sunday the 2nd of July.) 

 

Closed on Monday July 3 and Tuesday July 4th. 

Will reopen on Weds July 5th as al ways.  

Liston, Nienhaus and Crawford...At Captain Jacks....on Thursday July 6

Don't miss this one !  It's some of the former members of the St. Louis band..... Mama's Pride !

SPECIAL ENGAGEMENT !

 

RiverBill says......I am really excited about this one !   I hope they play some of my Mama's Pride all time favorites .......Can I Call You a Cab, She is a Stranger To Me Now, Blue Mist and Lucky Lady.   Check out their website  mamaspride.tripod.com

   

    I dug out their "Uptown and Lowdown" record  ....And....I plan to play it a bit before the 6th of July....................

The US Coast Guard Auxiliary is looking for volunteers .....click here for more info.

 Friday..... June 23,  2006  ..... 

Our River Picture Of The Day...........  was sent in by MaryBeth.........It is Laura, Butch, John, B.O.B. , Phil, MaryBeth and Carl toasting the setting sun of the Summer Solstice on Wednesday evening.   We spent Wednesday evening rafted up and lazily floating down the river , finally watching the sunset .........And celebrated the beginning of Summer.

 

 

RiverBill says.........Thanks for the picture Mary.........And......... of course the sun is setting on the Illinois side of the Mississippi River in this picture. 

Last Year's River Picture On This Day ------ What the heck was the picture on RiverBills.com last year on this day ?   

  It was a picture of the   restaurant at Captain Jack's Marina  , previously know as North Shore.  Captain Jack's is located near the lower end of Dardenne Slough at approximately the UMR 222.3 mile marker.  Looks like there is plenty of  construction going on at the restaurant and there is heavy equipment around the harbor also..   

Saturday, June 24  & Sunday, June  25

Towboat Festival

Grafton, IL

 

Tour fully operational towboats 

Blues, BBQ and Beer

Saturday, June 24  

My River Home & Longshot Saloon... Poker Run

Continental Breakfast

T-Shirts

Decal

Shrimp at Cedar hill

BBQ Dinner at Longshots

 

 Click here for more info.

Saturday, June 24  

Alton Block Party - Starts at 4 PM

Bone Daddy and the Shakers  7PM - 10:30PM

 

FIRST ANNUAL LOCK AND DAM 23 SANDBAR PARTY IS THIS WEEKEND........  

 

FIRST ANNUAL LOCK AND DAM 23 SANDBAR PARTY: 

Approximately Mile Marker 290, or the new north sandbar.  June 24th, all day events sponsored by TRBC.  This is the summer event you don’t want to miss.  Other boat clubs have been invited.   Among the activities planned by our Entertainment Committee (round of applause please):

  • Mississippi Riverbottom Queen Contest:  Men only.  (I don’t know the rules on this one but it sounds like it has possibilities). 

  • Whiffleball Contest

  • Volleyball Tournament

  • Election Lock and Dam 23 Harbor Master

  • Many more activities as well….

TRBC will be serving food for a very reasonable cost.  The menu available should be something along the line of hamburgers, porkburgers and brats.  There is the possibility of purchasing a commemorative cup for the occasion for a reasonable fee.  Contents to fill the cup with will be donated by the Boat Club such as margaritas, daiquiris etc.  As this will be the first time we have celebrated Lock and Dam 23 with a sandbar party, there will be special t-shirts printed up and available for the event as well.

The band for the event, Hand over Fist, will begin playing about 8:00 p.m.  Donations will be accepted from the audience to help support cost of the band.

 

Note:  The Corps of Engineers in its infinite wisdom dispensed with plans for Lock and Dam 23, so it does not truly exist in the physical sense.  Dams 22 and 24 are in a fine state of existence.  This party is being held as close to the nonexistent location of the proposed Lock and Dam 23 as is possible, to celebrate the fact it was never built.

 

Jaime Carroll

217-437-2321

Wanted.......One of our readers is looking for a club house or river home that is ....... for rent .....or..... for sale.  

Send e-mail with info to:

riverbill@prodigy.net ....and I will pass the information to them.

Fireworks & July 3 & 4  Business Hours... Cedar Hill.........

Fireworks on the Sat. the 1st of July.   (If it rains they will be held Sunday the 2nd of July.) 

 

Closed on Monday July 3 and Tuesday July 4th. 

Will reopen on Weds July 5th as al ways.  

Liston, Nienhaus and Crawford...At Captain Jacks....on Thursday July 6

Don't miss this one !  It's some of the former members of the St. Louis band..... Mama's Pride !

SPECIAL ENGAGEMENT !

 

RiverBill says......I am really excited about this one !   I hope they play some of my Mama's Pride all time favorites .......Can I Call You a Cab, She is a Stranger To Me Now, Blue Mist a