Monday......30 April  2007 ..........Back to Work !

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Our River Picture of the Day........  was sent in by Sharon Gwillim.  She snapped a picture of a red and green buoy a bit to close to navigate between.

Oh Buoy !

Bill,

   This is a picture of a couple of buoy's that are obviously off their mark.  Could you get your boat through there?? 

  We saw them on the way to the Wing Fling on 521. 

  Click here for Wing Fling  Pictures.

Sharon G

Yester Year's River Picture of the Day  ------  What picture was steering RiverBill's up-river on this day in years past ? 

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One of the River Picture Of The Day  in 2006 ...... was of river dawg "Bear" and his friend Barron.  Bear is working with Barron to teach him to be a real River Dawg.

I have a little backlog of River Dawgs  right now.

  If you sent a picture in......Look for your dog soon.  

All of our River Dawg pictures  will all be on display at this years

 Dog Days Of Summer Festival in downtown St. Charles.

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River History ------  
   Did you know that there was a Union Prison in Alton, IL during the Civil War ?  Escaped prisoners would attempt to cross the "Mississippi River" to the state of Missouri because it was a slave state a the time..

  Click here for more information about Alton, IL.

Missouri Conservationist on-line Magazine........The May on-line edition of  Missouri Conservationist Magazine is out..     

Click here to view the on-line magazine..  

This issue has:

• A short article about the Ladue Middle School's Stream Team.#76.....Click here

• An article in the Outdoor Recreation section about The State of Missouri's "Free Fishing Days" on  June 9 and 10. On Free Fishing Days the Department of Conservation suspends the requirement for fishing permits, trout permits and daily tags ....Click here and scroll down.

 Fri, Sat, Sun......27, 28, 29 April  2007 .........

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Our River Pictures of the Day.....Sunday...  are of the bands that provided the entertainment yesterday at "Cedar Hill's" Grand opening and Kinder's Luau Party.

  It's the "Piping Hot Buttery Biscuits Of Blues"  band ( top picture) that played on the deck at Cedar Hill yesterday afternoon.    

  It's the "RoadHouse" band (bottom picture) that rocked the crowd last night at Kinder's Luau Party.  

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Our River Picture of the Day.....Saturday...   I ask Capt'n Mike Holas where is the new deck at the Duck Club was located.  He sent us the above picture and the following description.  

Hi Bill,
  I am attaching another picture of the deck at the Duck Club. 

  You can see the deck on the far right. The pool is "downstream" of the clubhouse, and the deck is riverside.

Mike

RiverBill says......Thanks Mike......Mike and Rosie hail out of the Duck Club in the cruise Swing Set

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Our River Picture of the Day.....Friday... Was sent to us Capt'n Mike Holaus, who hails out of the Duck Club in the cruise Swing Set.  

It's a shot of the new deck at the Duck Club Yacht Club !

Yester Year's River Picture of the Day  ------  What picture was steering RiverBill's up-river on this day in years past ? 

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The River Picture Of The Day  in 2005 ....Sunday... was of a   helicopter heading up river near Royal Landing.   It looks like it is low enough that it could pull a water skier.

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The River Picture Of The Day  in 2006 ....Saturday... was from Betty Bannister.  It's pics from  "Jon Boat Wednesday".    A group of boaters that get together on Wednesday's and go boating....... in jon boats.......   

This one took place on Thursday.......

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The River Picture Of The Day  in 2006 ....Friday... was of a River Sunset taken near the UMR 224 mile marker.  The sun, in this picture,  is setting over Calhoun County, Illinois due to the bend in the Mississippi River in the St. Louis area.  When it got down below the tree line that evening it seemed to just start glowing and the red colors started showing up.......Sensational !

Another Door Missing At Woodland...Plus more...

Bill, 
I must admit I read that article on the missing Starboard door of the 89 St. Tropes and thought you were talking about my boat. I as well have an 89 St. Tropes and am also docked at Woodland Marina. The Starboard door from our swim platform was also missing (stolen) since last year. I have called everywhere trying to find another door like that and have had no luck. I never thought anyone stole our door, what we thought happened was the door opened during a storm and one of the dock lines caught it. After reading the story on your web-site it make me wonder. If nothing else our boats will look the same, missing the same door. While we have everyone looking for this door, we can also have them look for our Gensen Marion radio and Sony Stereo and speakers which were stolen from our boat on the dock at Woodland........

Joe Grygiel
Party-Cruz

A Short Story For Our Fellow Pool Boaters ....

Chapter 1 Small Door

The swim platform of our 89 Wellcraft St. Tropez has two small compartments. Port side houses a shower head and the starboard side for storage. The small doors, 8 x 16 inch are secured with a stainless steel piano hinge and 14 rivets.

Chapter 2 Big Pain

Between Sunday, 04/22, afternoon and Thursday, 04/26, somebody popped 7 of the 14 rivets and walked off with the starboard side door.

The end.

The only good use for this little door is covering the compartment of my boat. I suppose the door would also cover the same compartment of another St. Tropez. 

Any one know of another St. Tropez on the pool that needs this door? The best security for our boats are the eyes and ears of our fellow boaters.

We appreciate any help our fellow boater can give.

Ron Hering
Say Steel
Woodland Marina

RiverBill says...Lets help Ron find this thing !   Take a look around at any 89 Wellcraft St. Tropez you know of that were missing this door.   

River Levels and Weather ...............

The Weather and River Levels,  located at the top of this page on RiverBill's, is "updated every 20 minutes" now..... thanks to the hard work of Capt'n Gary Bowers, who hails out of Woodland Marina.  

 RiverBill says........ Thanks Gary for all you do !

Saturday  May 5    Great Grafton Pub Crawl ..... 

Grafton, IL

Cinco De Mayo Pub Crawl ..Cooler cups ...T-shirts, Live Music

10 Pubs $12.00   ...Transportation..

          For more info call 618 - 786-7678

Saturday  May 5    Alton Block Party ..... 

Alton, IL

Cinco De Mayo Block Party...Mexican Food and Drink

Starts at 4PM ...Music starts at 6:30PM...The Phins Band

For more info

Go to ......http://www.visitalton.com/story.cfm?id=15            

Call........ 618 - 465-6676

Alton Block Party Schedule ........ 

May 26..... Living Proof
June 30..... Bone Daddy & the Shakers
July 28 ...... Jimmy Buffet Tribute Party with The Phins
August 25...The Bel-Airs
Sept. 29.... "Poco"

For more info

Go to ......http://www.visitalton.com/story.cfm?id=15            

Call........ 618 - 465-6676

Lewis & Clark Statue Underwater on St. Louis Riverfront---- Old news.....Missed this one ...It's from March 23, 2007.   

~~~This one falls into the  "The Isle Of Bad Judgment"  category ~~~

    According to an article in  "Lewis & Clark' Road Trips.com"   the  "Captains Return Statue", that commemorates the Lewis and Clark Expedition's return to  St. Louis was partially underwater on March 22, 2007.  

   It's located on the St. Louis Riverfront near the Eads bridge and the rising waters of the Mississippi River were claiming the area where the statue sits. In the pictures the statue still looks sort-of-OK.  Almost like it's a sinking boat...heading for shore.  

  The river question of the day is  ...What were they thinking ? ?

   Click here to read the article. 

RiverBill's Classifieds.......  Click here  ...A 2002 Montana 5th Wheel trailer and a 1993 Sea Ray 330 Sundancer boat were just added !  

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

Mississippi River (above St. Louis):

61 degrees, falling, muddy; all species slow. (Report made on 4/26/2007)

Missouri River (below New Haven)

54 degrees, high, muddy; catfish fair on natural baits; all other species slow. (Report made on 4/26/2007)

Check out the report for the entire state of Missouri

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

What Going on At River Restaurants This Week ?.......Click here check it out !

Pre-1840 Period Fall Encampment and Shoot ... Sept 15 & 16….  

Columbia Bottom Conservation Area

   LHR will be having their Fall Encampment on the South Bank of the Missouri River at the Confluence to the Mississippi River.
   Spend the weekend on 4,000 acres of property owned and operated by the Missouri Department of Conservation. A wildlife area with wetlands loaded with game just as the earlier settlers would have enjoyed.
   Walk in the footsteps of the Spanish Fort “Fort Don Carlos” (1767-1780) located on the south-side of the mouth of the Missouri River. It was officially known as Fort Don Carlos el Senor Principe de Asturias, and it was an 80-foot square palisade with four bastions. 
   Visit the Missouri Department of Conservation Education and Visitor Center. Hike the trails thru the property. View the confluence of these two great rivers on a viewing platform built for all to enjoy. Or just sit back and enjoy the fall colors and smell the smoke from the campfires.
   Music by: Booneslick Stings Food by: Turkey Legs
   Militia de San Carlo / Lewis & Clark Fife and Drum Corps.

Click here for more info.  (MSWord doc)

The Blond Boating Joke of the Day .... is from our friend Larry Demko of Fastrac Media.  

   There was a blonde driving down the road one day. She glanced to her right and noticed another blonde sitting in a nearby field. She was in a boat rowing, with no water in sight.

   The blonde angrily pulled her car over and yelled at the rowing blonde, "What do you think you're doing? It's things like this that give us blondes a bad name. If I could swim, I'd come out there and kick your butt!"

RiverBill says.....Thanks for the joke Larry....good one !....Hah

Kinder's Luau Party .....Saturday.... April 28th ...

 8 PM - 12 midnight                                                   

 The Works Band  will be playing the  tunes    

~~~ Wear your Best Hawaiian Clothes  ~~~ 

~~~ Come and Join in the Fun  ~~~          

Click her for Kinder's Restaurant website

Cedar Hill Opening Day.....Saturday.... April 28th ...

“The Piping Hot Buttery Biscuits of Blues" Band

2PM - 6PM ...Sat 28th

Cedar Hill Resort will be open Saturday April 28th Come Hell or High Water. We have some new menu items that we think you will like. This year we have went back to Bottle Beer on the inside only. We will open the season with an all Blues Music Weekend (Weather Permitting). Our opening band will be “The Piping Hot Buttery Biscuits of Blues”. This band is worth the trip up to listen to, even if you have to drive a car. They will play 3:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. Saturday the 28th. Come help us start the boating season with a big party and continue a great 2007 season on the river. Happy New Year!

Dave and Carrie Ash

Hope to see you Saturday the 28th

  Click here for Cedar Hill's website

Sunday  April 29

Mushroom Festival .....Mushroom Cookoff

Piasa Winery in Grafton, IL

Saturday & Sunday  April 28 & 29

Riverside Flea Market

Grafton, IL

 Thursday...26 April  2007 ..........  

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Our River Picture of the Day........ Was sent to us Capt'n Robert Cope of the boat "SlowRide".   

Robert wrote:

Bill,

A couple pics from Saturday. Looks like the season is here in full force.

Robert

RiverBill says...Check out Robert's site....   

                      http://360.yahoo.com/rcope2@sbcglobal.net 

Yester Year's River Picture of the Day  ------  What picture was steering RiverBill's up-river on this day in years past ? 

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One of the Pictures on This Day in 2006 ..... was of a   Turtle Fest in the Lehmond Island Slough.   These guys were all negotiating for a spot on this one log in the middle of the slough to get in some "Sun Time".   There were more turtles on the log when we first seen them, but some slipped off into the water as I approached.   Looks like there were still about 15 -16 left when this picture was taken, depending if you count them on the small picture or on the full size one.   Lehmond Island Slough is located between Dardenne Slough and Highway B at approximately the UMR 227 -228 mile marker.

ITCS Memo ......Illinois River Update on Watch Phase's ---- Advisory issued... high water watch phase for various locations on lllinois and Mississippi Rivers, including  0.0 - 9.9 on the ILR....and....241.4 - 324.8 on the UMR.

Click here to read the ITCS Memo #2522  o read the ITCS Memo #2522  o read the ITCS Memo #2522 

Boil Order Update  - Grafton IL …. According to an news story on 4 kmov.com the 3 week old " boil order" in Grafton, IL remains in effect because ...... "One of the city's two water wells tested positive for bacteria after routine maintenance." 

    Crews are installing a pipe to try and bypass the suspected problem.  The boil order is expected to last another 5- 7 days.    

    Click here to read the news story on 4kmov.com

Plans To Raise The Nutwood Levee….  According to a news article in the on-line Alton Telegraph there was meeting on Tuesday evening, at the Calhoun County High School, about plans to raise the Nutwood Levee along the Illinois River by 2.5 feet.  The US Army Corps of Engineers predicted that the new levee height would be topped by flood waters only once every 130 years.   The levee protects local land as well as Illinois Routes 16 and 100.

  Click here to go to the on-line Alton Telegraph and read the news story.

 Wednesday...25 April  2007 ..........  It's All About "Dutch" Day

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Our River Picture of the Day........ Was sent to us by Dutch.   He is piloting his cruiser "The Scoundrel" around the loop.....He left St. Louis late last fall in the Scoundrel heading down the Mississippi River looking for warmer weather.  He spent a lot of the Winter months in Bahamas and that area.  Now he has worked his way up the eastern seaboard to New York..   

RiverBill says....Good to hear from you Dutch.  Enjoy and be safe !  See ya soon.

   Keep your anchor right here for updates and more pictures of Dutch's trip and you can check TheScoundrel.com ,  in the left hand column of this web page for travel updates. 

Yester Year's River Picture of the Day  ------  What picture was steering RiverBill's up-river on this day in years past ? 

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One of the Pictures on This Day in 2006 ..... was of our friend Dutch and a couple of his lady friends last year on the sundeck at Cedar Hill Resort.  Dutch brought the dancers along with him on his cruiser,  the Scoundrel, to provide entertainment for everyone that day.   Yeah Dutch ! 

  Check out  www.cedarhillresort.net  for more pictures from that afternoon.

Mississippi River Forecast…. The river levels at Winfield, Grafton and Alton are all below "Flood Stage" and "Action Stage".  

 Click here for today's river stages and forecast.  

430 Acre Nature Preserve Along The River Road Near Grafton ------  According to an article in the on-line Alton Telegraph ..... A new nature preserve, named the Palisades Preserve, is has been created near Raging Rivers Water Park along the Great River Road just down-river from Grafton, IL.  

   It is in a flyway for migratory birds and will provide protection for endangered / threatened species of plants and animals.   The preserve contains historic landscapes along the confluence of the Mississippi, Illinois and Missouri Rivers, undisturbed forests, limestone cliffs and loess hill parries.

  Click here to read the article in the on-line Telegraph.

Corps Of Engineers Missouri River Plan Update …. According to an article in this week's Waterways Journal the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers held a meeting in St. Louis in mid April to provide updates on their annual operating plan for the Missouri River. They expect to provide minimum service levels with a shortened season, but not the same drought conditions as last year. 

Click here to read the article in the Waterways Journal

What Going on At River Restaurants This Week ?.......Click here check it out !

Wings of Spring Confluence Birding Festival…. at the Riverlands Migratory Bird Sanctuary in West Alton is planned for Friday, Saturday and Sunday, May 4th, 5th and 6th. 

Located 30 minutes north of the Arch on the Mississippi River near Alton, Illinois

Click here for more information

Illegal Paddlefish Caviar Ring in Indiana…. Yesterday's on-line Post Dispatch had an interesting news story about an illegal caviar ring that was broken-up in Indiana. Due to a short supply of sturgeon caviar it has become profitable to market paddlefish eggs as caviar.  The paddlefish were being "illegally caught" in tributaries of the Ohio River. One fish can yield up to $800 worth of eggs.

Click here to read the news article on STLtoday.com

 Tuesday...24 April  2007 .......... 

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Our River Pictures and e-mail of the Day........ are a couple of river shots "of" and "from" the McKinley Bridge sent in by Dave Vance. 

Dave wrote:

Hi Bill, 

  This is the view a river pilot would see as he approaches St. Louis from the North. I am working above the river everyday, rebuilding the old McKinley Bridge (picture attached). This 100 year-old bridge is scheduled to reopen later this year without any tolls. It will also carry a bicycle path. 

Dave Vance

RiverBill says......Thanks for the great pictures Dave !    

   I found some history about the the old bridge that is sort of  interesting.

    It is normally assumed that the bridge was named after President William McKinley; but the name in reality is that of the builder.  The bridge was dedicated on Nov. 10, 1910 and recently closed for repairs in October 2001.   At one time it carried both automobiles and trains......later converted to carry only automobile traffic.

   According to the information in the link below, "the McKinley Bridge was the last sighting of the Little Green Man, a ghostly figure said to fly off the bridge into the night during the '50s and '60s when cars or RR personnel approached."

   Click here for history and pictures of the historic bridge that spans the Mighty Mississippi River..

Yester Year's River Picture of the Day  ------  What picture was steering RiverBill's up-river on this day in years past ? 

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The "Picture of the Day"  in 2006 .... was sent in by Richard Dorn.......It's "river cute" response to the  Wisconsin Houseboat we had on the other day. 

Rich wrote in his e-mail:

River Bill,

   Attached is a photo of MY house boat. 

   I've seen the one you had posted on your website Friday, 04/21/06. I'm not one that likes to have second best, so I opt out for the deluxe model with twin outboards. I'd challenge the owner of the other houseboat to a race for pink slips, but I currently have 169 monthly payments left on my rig before I can can say she's all mine! I'd have it paid of by now if I didn't get that home improvement loan last year, but them new hup caps sure look good on my mobile home.

Sincerely,

Bubba, A.K.A. Rick (LUNATIC FRINGE)

Arkansas U.S.A

HaHa!

Mississippi River Forecast…. The river levels at Winfield, Grafton and Alton are all below "Flood Stage" and "Action Stage".  The levels are forecasted to continue falling !

 Click here for today's river stages and forecast.  

Illinois Department of Natural Resources - Fishing Report......... is out for this week for the  Mississippi and Illinois Rivers.

Click here for the Mississippi River and scroll down to your favorite fishing area. (4-21-07)

Click here for the Illinois River and scroll down to your favorite fishing area. (4-20-07)

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

Kinder's Luau Party .....Saturday.... April 28th ...

 8 PM - 12 midnight                                                   

 The Works Band  will be playing the  tunes    

~~~ Wear your Best Hawaiian Clothes  ~~~ 

~~~ Come and Join in the Fun  ~~~          

Click her for Kinder's Restaurant website

Cedar Hill Opening Day.....Saturday.... April 28th ...

“The Piping Hot Buttery Biscuits of Blues" Band

2PM - 6PM ...Sat 28th

Cedar Hill Resort will be open Saturday April 28th Come Hell or High Water. We have some new menu items that we think you will like. This year we have went back to Bottle Beer on the inside only. We will open the season with an all Blues Music Weekend (Weather Permitting). Our opening band will be “The Piping Hot Buttery Biscuits of Blues”. This band is worth the trip up to listen to, even if you have to drive a car. They will play 3:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. Saturday the 28th. Come help us start the boating season with a big party and continue a great 2007 season on the river. Happy New Year!

Dave and Carrie Ash

Hope to see you Saturday the 28th

  Click here for Cedar Hill's website

 Monday...23 April  2007 .......... 

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Our River Picture of the Day........ is another aerial shot of the river sent in by Lloyd Bollinger, who hails out of the Yacht Club of St. Louis in the houseboat "SunKist III".  

Lloyd wrote:

Hey Bill,
   Attached is a good pic of the Dardene Slough and Main Channel of the Mississippi. You can see Woodland, Jack's, the Duck Club, as well as the upper part of Mason Chute.

LB

RiverBill says....Another good river shot Lloyd.. Thanks !.

Yester Year's River Picture of the Day  ------  What picture was steering RiverBill's up-river on this day in years past ? 

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The "Picture of the Day"  in 2005 .... was of the Towboat America in its new home north of Kampsville Ferry on the Calhoun County side of the Illinois River.   Looks like the Goldenrod Showboat moored next to it.   These pictures were taken from the Kampsville Ferry last year by Captain George Schindel in his land yacht.

Mississippi River Forecast…. The river levels at Winfield, Grafton and Alton are all below "Flood Stage" and are forecasted to keep falling !

 Click here today's river stages and forecast.  

Water Projects Bill Gets OK in House ------  According to a news article in the on-line Post Dispatch..... The House passed the Water Projects Bill that includes billions in funds for the Mississippi and Illinois waterways.
   About a fourth of the bill's total cost is slated for Missouri and Southern Illinois. Most of the money is for the construction of seven 1,200-foot locks on the upper Mississippi and Illinois rivers....And.... it includes money for the restoration of  surrounding ecosystems !

  Click here to read the story in the on-line STLtoday.com

Iowa Island 04/21/07....PhotoShow "…. Terrie Eudaley and Brian B sent us a Photoshow of their Saturday afternoon boat outing on Iowa island.

  Click here and take a look.

Mississippi River Numbers........The on-line Travers City Record-Eagle had a series of  articles about the Mighty Mississippi River last week.  Lots of river-facts, numbers, history, etc...  

Click here ...The 'Big Muddy' remains vital to health of national economy - 04/14/07

Click here ...Mississippi by the numbers  - 04/15/07

Click here ...Altered channel causing Louisiana coast to disappear - 04/16/07

Click here....Moving river barges into place is a tricky process - 04/17/07

Click here....River has an impact on literature in U.S. - 4/18/07

 Fri, Sat, Sun .....20, 21, 22 April  2007 .......... 

Our River Picture of the Day........ is from Jessy's "Sweet Sixteen" Birthday Party at Kinder's Saturday night. 

    Jessy is front and center, in red,  with her girlfriends Angie and Alex by her side.  The proud parents, Gary and Jeri Behnke are in the back on the right.  Jan and Gary Thaller in the back on the left.  

   The Behnke family boats out of Two Branch Marina in the cruiser "Rae Marie".

HAPPY BIRTHDAY JESSY ! 

CLICK ON PICTURE TO ENLARGE

Our River Picture of the Day........ Our picture today was sent in by Lloyd Bollinger, who hails out of the Yacht Club of St. Louis in the houseboat "SunKist III".  

Lloyd wrote:

Hey Bill,
Attached is a picture of the confluence of the Mississippi and Illinois Rivers I took while flying. Note Grafton Marina in the picture. 

Lloyd

RiverBill says....Good picture Lloyd...Thanks for sending it in!   I also see the Grafton Ferry, a good view of the River Road and a bunch of sloughs on the Missouri side of the river that I didn't know where there.  

CLICK ON PICTURE TO ENLARGE

Our River Picture of the Day........ is another taken by Capt'n Robert Cope, of the boat "Slow Ride".     It's a great panoramic shot looking down the Mississippi River from the hills above the town of Louisiana, Mo. 

RiverBill says....Another great picture Robert.  Thanks for sharing !

Yester Year's River Picture of the Day  ------  What picture was steering RiverBill's up-river on this day in years past ? 

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The "Picture of the Day"  in 2006 .....Sunday.... was of a boat shaped like a wooden shoe - taken by Captain Darryll Weil, who hails out of the Yacht Club in the cruiser "After You", on his trip to Amsterdam this spring.   What an unusual looking boat !   

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@ 5:30 PM

The "Picture of the Day"  in 2006 .....Saturday.... was sent in by Ron and Darlene Skeen.  It's a picture of a very unusual houseboat. 

Ron and Darlene wrote in their e-mail:

Bill,

    Although its not on the Mississippi, it is quite an example of river engineering...It's a house boat in Wisconsin, and they swear they use it every weekend all summer ..thought you might enjoy it..

   It's a snap shot by the owners of the vessel...they live in Broadhead Wis. and the boat is on the sugar river.....We have talked to them a couple of times on I M

Ron & Darlene

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The "Picture of the Day"  in 2006 .....Friday.... was sent in by Robert Cope.  White pelicans with the bluffs in the background !

Mississippi River Forecast…. The river levels at Winfield, Grafton and Alton are all forecasted to drop a couple of feet of the next few days !

 Click here today's river stages and forecast.  

River History @ 4:00 PM

April 21, 1910 in River History

Samuel Langhorne Clemens died (November 30, 1835 – April 21, 1910), better known by his pen name Mark Twain.

Click here for more info

April 21, 1855 in River History

The 1st train crossed the Mississippi River's 1st bridge from Rock Island, Illinois to Davenport, Iowa.

Click here for more info

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

Mississippi River (above St. Louis):

54 degrees, rising, muddy; all species slow. (Report made on 4/19/2007)

Missouri River (below New Haven)

51 degrees, high, muddy; catfish fair on natural baits; all other species slow. (Report made on 4/19/2007)

Check out the report for the entire state of Missouri

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

Riverbill's Classifieds....Check it out !

@ 10:00 PM

Sunday ..22 April is Earth Day   ..... Greenway Network Stream Team members will meet to conduct the annual base line stream monitoring for Dardenne Creek.

     Click here for more info

Stateamind Watersports.....Saturday.... April 21st.. 11:00am to 3:00pm...

On Water Demo Featuring Tigé boats as well as Malibus at Lake Center Marina. 

Call to reserve a Demo for your new boat
The following boat models will be available for Demo

2007 Tigé 20i, 2007 Tige 22vé, 2007 Malibu Response, 2007 Malibu 247 LSV
Stateamind Watersports
122 Ford ln.
Hazelwood MO 63042
314-731-3795

COBALT BOATS ~ DEMO DAYS
Sunday April 22nd, 2007 1-5pm
@ Riverside Harbor

“Take a test drive in the best built, most luxurious boats to grace the water.”

CLICK HERE

Duck Club Yacht Club's Boat Show & Open House.....

Saturday & Sunday  April 21 & 22.   Local marine Vendors, Chili Blast, Helicopter Rides, Flea Market, Raffle & 50/50 all day.....Click here for more info

Wahoo Marine.....Saturday & Sunday... April 21st & 22nd Wahoo Marine is holding a Houseboat Expo at Polestar Marina.  

For more info..call:   636-949-2738.

My River Home.... 

   Rent a dock and pay in full....Get a free hoist for the year 

   Check out the list of pre-owned boats at ...  MyRiverHome.com

   Phone: 636 - 899-0903 

Belle Of The Night…. Some of our readers have sent e-mails asking about a riverboat that is moored on the Mississippi River near Hwy 270.   It's probably "The Belle of the Night"....a barge that looks like a riverboat per an article in Thursday's on-line Post Dispatch.
     During the 1970's this boat operated on the downtown St. Louis Riverfront as the Belle Angeline and the River Club. It has been  bought and sold and moved to various locations around the country since that time.  Now, the present owner has moved it back to St. Louis and wants to use the boat as an anchor for developing a riverfront project that will feature trendy retail and luxury riverfront condominiums on 70 acres just within the city limits. 

   Click here to read the story in the on-line STLtoday.com

Dan's Boats ------ 

    Your source for excellent customer service - proven - they’ve been awarded Regal Boats Customer Satisfaction Awards for 5 consecutive years!          Click here

Lost ------ Black Leather Women’s coat

 waist length and zips up the front – Brand name CLIO

WHERE: Capt’s Jack on Sat night, 14 Apr at the Grand Opening 

E-mail address: pdifatta2@yahoo.com

Full Service Marine Repair    Click here

LEWIS MARINA AT LAKE OZARKS... Call Brian Lewis at (573)365-0781

KJ's Place ..Portage Des Sioux ------ Check it out !

  Hi Bill, 

   This is Kelli, one of the bartenders at K.J.'s Place. (It used to be Portage Grill.)    

   I just wanted to let you know that we opened under new management about a month ago. We have a new menu selection and hope you come in to see us soon.  Rickie Lee Tanner and Powder Keg will be there on May 5th, which is Cinco De Mayo. 

Kelli

 Thursday .....19 April  2007 .......... 

 Updated @ 6:15 AM

CLICK ON PICTURE TO ENLARGE

Our River Picture of the Day........ was sent taken by Capt'n Robert Cope, of the boat "Slow Ride".     It's a rainbow over the Clarksville Lock and Dam that he snapped a few weeks ago while on a road trip. 

RiverBill says....Thanks for the picture Robert.  Wow !

Yester Year's River Picture of the Day  ------  What picture was steering RiverBill's up-river on this day in years past ? 

~~^~~^~~^~~^~~^~~^~~^~~^~~^~~^~~

The "Picture of the Day"  in 2005  was from the other side of the world.   Ronnie Stevens, who hails out of Two Branch Marina in the houseboat Summer Breeze, was in China and sent us the following e-mail;

Bill, 

  I'm over in China and I sure am glad I can get on your web site to get news from the River.   I tried to make a deal on a new boat.   As you can see she is a real looker.   I especially like the 57 Chevy fins.   It's not the Mississippi, but a boat ride on the Yellow Sea is better than nothing.

Ron

Mississippi River Forecast…. The river level at Winfield is forecast to drop below flood stage late today and Grafton is forecast to drop below flood stage late Saturday.

 Click here today's river stages and forecast.  

Riverbill's Classifieds....Check out the newest listing............

" 1998 Aquasport 16, 50 Johnson "

Volunteer Wanted...Old Monroe Area.......The National Weather Service is looking for a volunteer to monitor the "river gauge" on the Cuivre River at Old Monroe.  I am not sure what is all involved, but it sounds like a unique opportunity for someone who lives in the area.

Click here to view Nation Weather Service chart with "volunteer wanted" info on it.  Look for the red text.

National Weather Service
St. Louis Weather Forecast Office
12 Missouri Research Park Drive
St. Charles, MO 63304
(636) 441-8467

Stateamind Watersports.....Saturday.... April 21st.. 11:00am to 3:00pm...

On Water Demo Featuring Tigé boats as well as Malibus at Lake Center Marina. 

Call to reserve a Demo for your new boat
The following boat models will be available for Demo

2007 Tigé 20i, 2007 Tige 22vé, 2007 Malibu Response, 2007 Malibu 247 LSV
Stateamind Watersports
122 Ford ln.
Hazelwood MO 63042
314-731-3795

COBALT BOATS ~ DEMO DAYS
Sunday April 22nd, 2007 1-5pm
@ Riverside Harbor

“Take a test drive in the best built, most luxurious boats to grace the water.”

CLICK HERE

Duck Club Yacht Club's Boat Show & Open House.....

Saturday & Sunday  April 21 & 22.   Local marine Vendors, Chili Blast, Helicopter Rides, Flea Market, Raffle & 50/50 all day.....Click here for more info

Wahoo Marine.....Saturday & Sunday... April 21st & 22nd Wahoo Marine is holding a Houseboat Expo at Polestar Marina.  

For more info..call:   636-949-2738.

What's Going On At The River  Restaurants ------ Check out what's going on at the river restaurants this week / weekend. 

Scroll down towards the end of today's edition and check it out .... or click here.

My River Home....  Rent a dock and pay in full....Get a free hoist for the year 

   Check out the list of pre-owned boats at MyRiverHome.com

   Phone: 636 - 899-0903 

Con Trios Yacht Club Website Update…. Capt'n Darryll Weil, the Web Master for Con Trios Yacht Club, sent us the following e-mail:

    Got an email from Bill Taylor, former Fleet Captain with Con Trios Yacht Club, now living and boating in Arkansas. Bill is in the process of rebuilding the Little Rock Yacht Club members and events. Their parties and events sound all too familiar!
    Go to www.contriosyachtclub.org to read his email and see their "Blessing of the Fleet" flyer.
   Thanks to Bill for the update, keep us posted on your club's progress and events!

Darryll

RiverBill says...Sounds like the infection is spreading.  Boaters, parties, good friends !

Dan's Boats ------ 

    Your source for excellent customer service - proven - they’ve been awarded Regal Boats Customer Satisfaction Awards for 5 consecutive years!          Click here

Lost ------ Black Leather Women’s coat

 waist length and zips up the front – Brand name CLIO

WHERE: Capt’s Jack on Sat night, 14 Apr at the Grand Opening 

E-mail address: pdifatta2@yahoo.com

Cedar Hill Opens on Saturday,  April 28th------  

Dear Bill,

   Cedar Hill Resort will be open Saturday April 28th Come Hell or High Water. We have some new menu items that we think you will like. This year we have went back to Bottle Beer on the inside only. We will open the season with an all Blues Music Weekend (Weather Permitting). Our opening band will be “The Piping Hot Buttery Biscuits of Blues”. This band is worth the trip up to listen to, even if you have to drive a car. They will play 3:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. Saturday the 28th. Come help us start the boating season with a big party and continue a great 2007 season on the river. Happy New Year!

Dave and Carrie Ash

Hope to see you Saturday the 28th

RiverBil says....See ya there !.

Wednesday .....18 April  2007 .......... 

CLICK ON PICTURE TO ENLARGE

Our River Picture of the Day........ is a picture (re-published with permission) of Ma Belle from Robert Cope's blog  The RiverRat'sNest.

Robert wrote:

"This should confirm that the Ma bell Needs some hull repair. Normally, she's laying on dry ground."

RiverBill says....Thanks for the picture Robert.  It's to bad to see this piece of history rusting away like it is.  

   Look for a special article on Ma Belle in RiverBill's soon.  I have received some copies of some old photographs of Ma Belle in her prime from Joe Stork's daughter.  Joe was the original owner.  The boat was featured in National Geographic, The Post Dispatch and a local magazine, The River Current. 

Yester Year's River Picture of the Day  ------  What picture was steering RiverBill's up-river on this day in years past ? 

~~^~~^~~^~~^~~^~~^~~^~~^~~^~~^~~

The "Picture of the Day"  in 2005  was of some boaters on Iowa Island. The river was "up" a bit that day, but it didn't stop this group from heading to the beach for the afternoon.   It was just one of those beautiful Mississippi River Spring days.

Do you know any of these "Beach Creatures" ?

Mississippi River Forecast…. Both the Illinois and Mississippi Rivers have crested on Sun / Mon and are forecasted to go back down.

 Click here today's river stages and forecast.  

Check out ...........  Riverbill's Classifieds.

April 1832 in River History ------   

    The steamboat Virginia left St. Louis, Missouri and headed up the Mississippi River.   After 683 miles and twenty days she arrived at Fort Snelling, Minnesota, which is at the confluence of the Minnesota and Mississippi Rivers. The Virginia was the first steamboat to make this trip.

  Click here for more information and more steamboat history.

Underwater Restaurant ------   Not Here Of Course!

    Captain Brian Muenks, of the boat Called in Sick , sent us a link to a restaurant with a view.  It's underwater....located in the Hilton Maldives Resort & Spa on Hulhule Island in the Indian Ocean.  It's not the river.....but it is sure worth a look !

  Click here for more information and pictures on Snopes.com

Longshot Saloon ------   This Weekend's Specials

12 Oz New York Strip Steak

10 Grilled Shrimp 

with one side......$12.95

8 oz Black Angus Sirloin Steak

10 Grilled Shrimp 

with one side.......$13.95

What's Going On At The River  Restaurants ------ Check out what's going on at the river restaurants this week. 

Scroll down towards the end of today's edition and check it out .... or click here.

Lost ------ Black Leather Women’s coat

 waist length and zips up the front – Brand name CLIO

WHERE: Capt’s Jack on Sat night, 14 Apr at the Grand Opening 

E-mail address: pdifatta2@yahoo.com

Cedar Hill Opens on Saturday,  April 28th------  

Dear Bill,

   Cedar Hill Resort will be open Saturday April 28th Come Hell or High Water. We have some new menu items that we think you will like. This year we have went back to Bottle Beer on the inside only. We will open the season with an all Blues Music Weekend (Weather Permitting). Our opening band will be “The Piping Hot Buttery Biscuits of Blues”. This band is worth the trip up to listen to, even if you have to drive a car. They will play 3:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. Saturday the 28th. Come help us start the boating season with a big party and continue a great 2007 season on the river. Happy New Year!

Dave and Carrie Ash

Hope to see you Saturday the 28th

RiverBil says....See ya there !.

My River Home....  Rent a dock and pay in full....Get a free hoist for the year 

   Check out the list of pre-owned boats at MyRiverHome.com

   Phone: 636 - 899-0903 

Tuesday .....17 April  2007 .......... 

Our River Pictures of the Day........ are of the flooding on Dardenne Slough near South Shore..... sent to us by Frances Kennedy.  

Click here for more photo's of the flooding.

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

Yester Year's River Picture of the Day  ------  What picture was steering RiverBill's up-river on this day in years past ? 

~~^~~^~~^~~^~~^~~^~~^~~^~~^~~^~~

The "Picture of the Day"  in 2006  was taken last year while crossing the Mississippi River on the Golden Eagle Ferry.  It's looking up-river from the ferry  towards Two Branch Island.   Looks like the heavens are shinning down on the river. 

Mississippi River Forecast…. Looks like the rivers have crested and should be going back down.

 Click here today's river stages and forecast.  

Nature Preserve Along Mississippi Near Grafton------  There was an article in yesterday's on-line Post Dispatch about the plans for creating a 430 acre nature preserve along the Mississippi River just east of the town of Grafton.  

   The announcement is expected in a news conference this coming Thursday.

  Click here to read the story in the on-line STLtoday.com

Lost ------ Black Leather Women’s coat

 waist length and zips up the front – Brand name CLIO

WHERE: Capt’s Jack on Sat night, 14 Apr at the Grand Opening 

E-mail address: pdifatta2@yahoo.com

Relief For Missouri River Basin------  According to an article in this week's "Waterways Journal"  the upper three reservoirs of the Missouri Basin should see an increase in the water levels due to recent higher-than-normal water runoff. 

  Click here to read the story in the April 16 - 22 edition of the Waterways Journal.

What's Going On At The River  Restaurants ------ Check out what's going on at the river restaurants this week. Scroll down past the "Boats For Sale"   or click here.

A Missouri River Navigation Caucus------  has been formed according to an editorial article in this week's "Waterways Journal".    It will promote navigation on the Missouri River and protect current users from unwanted changes in the Missouri River Master Water Control Manual. 

  Click here to read the story in the April 16 - 22 edition of the Waterways Journal.

Our River Pictures of the Day........ are from Matt, one of the bar tenders at Capt'n Jacks.

Hi Bill ! 

Here are some pictures of docks leaving Captain Jack's Marina down river past Iowa Island...these guys made it look easy!

Matt

RiverBill says....Thanks for the pictures Matt....Never know what you might see on the river.

Yester Year's River Picture of the Day  ------  What picture was steering RiverBill's up-river on this day in years past ? 

~~^~~^~~^~~^~~^~~^~~^~~^~~^~~^~~

The "Picture of the Day"  in 2006  was sent in by Steve Schulte. It's a shot of the Boat at the River Bend , the new entertainment complex that is moored at the Alton Riverfront.  

   Click here to read the article that the on-line Alton Telegraph ran in March 2006 the boat arrived. 

Mississippi River Forecast….  Click here today's river stages and forecast.  

CLICK ON PICTURE TO ENLARGE

Villas At Grafton... The above picture was "picture of the day" last Saturday.  It shows the Timber Ridge Condos in the foreground and just down the hill there is some new construction going on.  You can see the bare ground that has been newly worked.  Mike Holas, who hails out of the Duck Club in the boat Swing Set, sent us an e-mail about what is going on there.

Mike wrote:

Hi Bill,
You mentioned some construction below the Timber Ridge Condos in Grafton, it is a project that TR Hughes is building, the Villas at Grafton.  There will be 50 units, seven buildings. They will be three floors, a two floor unit on the bottom and a single floor unit on the top accessible from straight in due to the slope of the hill.
Mike

RiverBill says...Thanks for the update Mike !

RiverBill's Classifieds  ------ Check out the new look of Riverbill's Classifieds.

RiverBills.com

Your direct link to the boating community in the St. Louis area.

More than 38,000 visitors last month. 

Villas At Grafton... The above picture was "picture of the day" last Saturday.  It shows the Timber Ridge Condos in the foreground and just down the hill there is some new construction going on.  You can see the bare ground that has been newly worked.  Mike Holas, who hails out of the Duck Club in the boat Swing Set, sent us an e-mail about what is going on there.

Mike wrote:

Hi Bill,
You mentioned some construction below the Timber Ridge Condos in Grafton, it is a project that TR Hughes is building, the Villas at Grafton.  There will be 50 units, seven buildings. They will be three floors, a two floor unit on the bottom and a single floor unit on the top accessible from straight in due to the slope of the hill.
Mike

RiverBill says...Thanks for the update Mike !

Kinder's Restaurant ------ Kinder's Restaurant is open 7 Days a week now.  The kitchen is open from 11:00 Am - 8:00 PM daily.

  Their upcoming party is about 2 weeks away...It's a Luau !  Dress up in your best Hawaiian clothes and join in the fun !

Kinder's Luau Party ~ April 28th ~ 8 PM - 12 midnight

The Works Band  will be playing the tunes 

~~~Let's Dance ~~~   

Click her for Kinder's Restaurant website

What's Going On At The River  Restaurants ------ Check out what's going on at the river restaurants this week. Scroll down past the "Boats For Sale"   or click here.

Rickie Lee Tanner & Powder Keg ------ Check it out.  

    Jim Postle of the Lookbacks sent us a link to an article on "Admit One VIP" about a on of our sponsors.......Rickie Lee Tanner and Powder Keg.  

   They are a new southern rock river band.  We listened to them one night earlier this year at the Portage Bar and Grill.   Country, Rock and Roll, Jimmy Buffet, Eric Clapton....they played it all....Wow !

   The band released at single "Highway To Nowhere" late last year and it was an instantan success on Soundclick, quickly climbing to #1.  It got them an invitation to Nashville, Tennessee  to appear on "Nashville OnStage".

   You can down load "Highway To Nowhere" on iTunes, Rhapsody, and Napster. 

   Click here and read the article on VIP Admit One

RiverBill says...Congratulations Guys !  See ya soon.  

Check them out next chance you get !

Found….  Box of tools.... at the Yacht Club of St. Louis. 

         To claim.....e-mail RiverBill with description .. riverbill@prodigy.net

 Weekend Report

      Fri, Sat, Sun     13, 14, 15 April  2007 .......... 

CLICK ON PICTURE TO ENLARGE

Our River Pictures of the Day.....Sunday... are from Capt'n Jacks Grand Opening party on Saturday night. Plenty of cold drinks while Rail provided the music.   More pictures soon.

CLICK ON PICTURE TO ENLARGE

Our River Picture of the Day.....Saturday... is a scenic view taken a few weeks ago from Aries Winery in Grafton, IL.  Timber Ridge Condos are in the foreground and Grafton Harbor is down the hill on the Illinois River.  A southbound tow is heading for the confluence of the Mississippi and Illinois Rivers.  

  Looks like some new construction going on in front of the condos.

CLICK ON PICTURE TO ENLARGE

Our River Picture of the Day......Friday.. is a scenic view take a few weeks ago from in front of the Pere Marquette Lodge just outside of Grafton, IL.  You can see the Great River Road and the Illinois River in the distance.

Yester Year's River Picture of the Day  ------  What picture was steering RiverBill's up-river on this day in years past ? 

~~^~~^~~^~~^~~^~~^~~^~~^~~^~~^~~

Sunday

The "Picture of the Day"  in 2005  is unique view of Alton and the Clark Bridge   taken by Steve Schulte.   This is a shot from the Missouri side of the river, looking at Alton through the Clark Bridge.   The very modern lines of the bridge really offset the look of the older buildings staggered up the hill in the background.    Alton Marina can be seen in the lower right hand corner.

~~^~~^~~^~~^~~^~~^~~^~~^~~^~~^~~

Saturday  

The "Picture of the Day"  in 2005  was an "Award Winning" photo of the Clark Bridge   taken early in morning just when the night was starting to turn into the twilight of day.   The lighting on the bridge really stands out against the reddish early morning sky in the background and reflections of the lights on the water of the Mississippi River.   This photo was taken by Pat Reid of "Crystal Photography".   Check out his website http://www.crystal-photo.net

~~^~~^~~^~~^~~^~~^~~^~~^~~^~~^~~

Friday

The "Picture of the Day"  in 2006  was sent in by Pat Reid of Crystal Photography last year.  I was looking through some older photos and spotted this picture of a classic looking towboat pushing barges up-river in the first light of morning with the Alton riverfront in the background..........Good shot Pat !

Mississippi River Forecast….  Click here today's river stages and forecast.  

RiverBill's Classifieds  ------ Check out the new look of Riverbill's Classifieds.

RiverBills.com

Your direct link to the boating community in the St. Louis area.

More than 38,000 visitors last month. 

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

Mississippi River (above St. Louis):

52 degrees, rising, muddy; all species slow. (Report made on 4/12/2007)

Missouri River (below New Haven)

49 degrees, high, muddy; Catfish fair on natural bait; all other species slow. (Report made on 4/12/2007)

Check out the report for the entire state of Missouri

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

German Bridge For Boats ------  Capt'n Johnny River Rat sent us an e-mail about  a bridge in Germany that was built to take boats over the Elbe River.

Click here and check it out on www.truthorfiction.com

New Mexican Restaurant in Grafton ------  called Dos Rios or Two Rivers Mexican Grill is going up by the Grafton Marina. They will have the usual inside dining and they have plans to deliver food around the boat ramp and the ferry on a golf cart.  They might even deliver to the boaters via. pontoon boat. 

   I can see it now....Taco night.... at Mason Chute !

   Click here to read the article in the on-line Telegraph.

RiverBill's Classifieds ------ Click here ....and check out the 2 new boats "For Sale" today or ...just scroll down on this page.

Port Charles Marina Boat Docks------  There was a picture and few paragraphs of info  in yesterday's paper edition of the Post Dispatch about the new boat docks being put up at Port Charles Marina.  The new docks are replacing those damaged by the ice storm we had during the Winter.

  Grab a paper copy of the newspaper and look in the Metro Section...pg 3B.

Columbia Bottom Conservation Area Wetlands------  There was an article in yesterday's on-line Post Dispatch about the wetlands that the State of Missouri and the Army Corps of Engineers created in the Columbia Bottom Conservation Area near the Mississippi and Missouri river confluence.   

   A pump station draws water from the Mississippi River for the seven new wetland pools.

  Click here to read the story in the on-line STLtoday.com

ATV's on the Levee----  There was an article in the April 3rd on-line Alton Telegraph describing how ATV riders are trespassing onto the Wood River levees with their vehicles and causing more damage to a levee system that is already badly in need of repair.  The Wood River levee system district covers the entire area along the Mississippi River from the city of Alton south to the Chain of Rocks Canal.

   As boaters we can help ! ......... they are asking anyone that spots ATV drivers on the Wood River levees to contact local authorities as soon as possible to get the activity halted.

  Click here to read the story in the on-line Aton Telegraph

Columbia Bottom Conservation Area Wetlands------  There was an article in yesterday's on-line Post Dispatch about the wetlands that the State of Missouri and the Army Corps of Engineers created in the Columbia Bottom Conservation Area near the Mississippi and Missouri river confluence.   

   A pump station draws water from the Mississippi River for the seven new wetland pools.

  Click here to read the story in the on-line STLtoday.com

Found….  Box of tools.... at the Yacht Club of St. Louis. 

         To claim.....e-mail RiverBill with description .. riverbill@prodigy.net

 Thursday .... 12 April  2007 .......... It's all about boats today !

CLICK ON PICTURE TO ENLARGE

Our River Picture of the Day........ was taken a few weeks ago in Snake Chute.  It's Dave, who was the manager of Capt'n Jack's last year, out for a Sunday afternoon ride with family and friends. I see he even brought his river dawg along for the ride.

Yester Year's River Picture of the Day  ------  What picture was steering RiverBill's up-river on this day in years past ? 

~~^~~^~~^~~^~~^~~^~~^~~^~~^~~^~~

The "Picture of the Day"  in 2005  was a shot of  a lonely towboat heading down river   near the UMR 228 mile marker..   The sun was already down past the horizon, but it still provided a reddish sky and red reflections off the water.

Mississippi River Forecast….  Click here today's river stages and forecast.  

RiverBill's Classifieds ------ Click here ....And... Check out the boats "For Sale"  or ...just scroll down to the bottom of today's edition.

The "Classifieds" link is in the upper left hand column of this page.

The "Picture of the Day"  on Monday was a strange boat that Carl Sondker seen while vacationing in Cabo San Lucas, Mexico.    Our friend , Carl Tiemann, who hails out of Eagles Landing Marina, sent us an e-mail with a link to the web site of the manufacturer that makes this boat.  

   Check it out...go to http://www.paritetboat.com/looker25.shtml .  The boat is made in Russia by the Paritet Company,  and according to the info on their web site, it's has a glass bottom.  The boat is probably for tourist excursions, as is the yellow boat in the next slip that has rows and rows of seats.

   Click here for a close-up view of the boat.

RiverBill says...Thanks Carl Sondker for sending us the picture ...and thanks Carl Tiemann for finding us the link and info on the boat.

The New Issue of BoatingLifeMag.com is out......... Click here to view the new issue.

 Wednesday .... 11 April  2007 .......... CAUTION :  Contains More Bird Pics

 Welcome !......Metro East FiberGlass .." Boat Repair"

Click here

CLICK ON PICTURE TO ENLARGE

Our River Picture and e-mail of the Day........ was sent in by Sharon Gwillim, the photographer who took the RiverBill's April 2007 Calendar photograph.  Sharon sent us another great photo !  White pelicans on the Mississippi River with the Clark Bridge in the background.  What a good shot !

Sharon wrote:

Bill,

Thanks for using my picture for the April calendar. A couple of months ago I was over in West Alton and took a shot of the Clark Bridge with all the Pelicans around, thought you might enjoy it. Looks kinda warm compared to the temps we've been having lately! Looking forward to summer and hotter temps!

Sharon Gwillim

Yester Year's River Picture of the Day  ------  What picture was steering RiverBill's up-river on this day in years past ? 

~~^~~^~~^~~^~~^~~^~~^~~^~~^~~^~~

  CLICK ON PICTURE TO ENLARGE

The "Picture of the Day"  in 2005  was a shot of the sun setting over Calhoun County, IL   near the UMR 224 mile marker.  

That day's editorial also included the following statement:

"This might be the only place in Missouri where 

the sun sets over Illinois."   

  Oh Buoy..was I wrong !  .......The next day I got a rebuttal from my friend Kathy FLippo of Tow Talkin, who has probably traveled the length of the Mississippi River more times than most of us have backed our boats out of the dock.  She wrote this response:

    "It might be but it ain't.   The sun sets over Illinois down at Dogtooth Bend, UMR mile 21 to 23 and at UMR mile 14 to 17 in the Sisters Island, Scudder Towhead, Grand Lake Towhead and Thompson Towhead neighborhood.   You know of course that there is Illinois real estate on the right descending bank of the UMR also, don't you?   There at mile 110.5 up to 118.5 you are running through Illinois on both banks.   In fact the whole little town of Kaskaskia Illinois is on the Missouri side!     We fleeted at Farmer's landing light, mile 111.5.  --------   And tit for tat, a little chunk of Missouri real estate is over on the left descending bank of the UMR mile 76.5 to 79.3. It is called Grand Tower Island, Perry County, Missouri.   

Mississippi River Forecast….  Click here today's river stages and forecast.  

Capt'n Jack's   ------ Opens Tonight

Friday..April 13...........Music by Ray The DJ 

Grand Opening.......... Saturday, April 14th

Music by the band Rail

Click here for Capt'n Jack's  website

RiverBill's Classifieds ------ Added another boat the Classified Section

Click here ....And... Check it out or scroll down to the bottom of today's edition.

The "Classifieds" link is in the upper left hand column of this page.

Boil Order in Grafton ------  According to an article in the on-line Alton Telegraph..... The river town of Grafton, IL is under a "Boil Order" because of recent problems with infiltration into its main water well.

  Click here to read the story in The Telegraph.

The Mv. General Warren ------  This week's edition of  Tow Talkin has an article about a new towboat that the Army Corps of Engineers has, the Mv. General Warren. 

   Kathy Flippo caught up with them at lock 13 on their maiden voyage up the Mississippi River from Orange, Texas where it was built....

   The towboat must has passed through St. Louis un-noticed this time....Anyway I am sure it will pass through St. Louis again, and now we will know a little something about it.  

  Click here to read the story in this week's edition of Tow Talkin

Barge Collides With Excursion Boat "River Explorer" ------  According to an article in this week's "Waterways Journal"  a barge came loose from a tow and collided with the excursion boat "The River Explorer" on the lower Mississippi River near Mile 115.  Some damage, no injuries, no pollution.   The River Explorer visits the St. Louis area from time to time. 

  Click here to read the story in the April 9 edition of the Waterways Journal.

Con Trios Yacht Club News ------  Capt'n Darryll Weil sent us the following update:

   The location of the CPR class set for May 12th has been changed to the St. Charles County Ambulance District Training Center at 4169 Old Mill Parkway, St. Peters, MO. 63376

   Past Commodore's Party set for May 5th at Aeries Winery. More information and reservation forms available on the website. Deadline for reservations is May 1st.

Go to: http://www.contriosyachtclub.org/ for more information.

The Recreational Boating and Fishing Organization ------  has launched a new feature on their website.  It's a database of fishing and boating spots. You can search from more than 10,000 locations in all 50 states.  Check it out !

Click here to read the 4/10/07 Press Release.

CLICK ON PICTURE TO ENLARGE

Yacht Club Of St. Louis - Update ------ Our friend, Captain Darryll Weil, who hails out of the "Yacht Club of St. Louis" in the cruiser "After You", sent us an update on the remodeling work going on there.

Darryll wrote: 

Bill:
Got a personal tour of the changes going on at Yacht Club of St. Louis from Rich Luttrell. 

  Here are a few pics of the work. There is a new bar being built on the first floor, the Gazebo adjoining the pool will also get an outdoor bar along with an addition to the patio overlooking the slough. Bathrooms are being completely renovated. Private shower suites with full facilities have been added. All the rough in work is complete, now the ceramic tile and fixtures are the final steps. The 1st bar pic was taken from the door going to the pool area and the 2nd bar pic is from the door coming from the parking lot. Having heard conversations wondering about the changes thought these might help put it all in perspective. 

   Rich has several other changes in the works that will make Yacht Club better than ever.
Thanks, Darryll

 Tuesday ....  10 April  2007 

CLICK ON PICTURE TO ENLARGE

Our River Picture of the Day........ was taken in snake chute a few weeks ago.  It's a boat "rooster-tailing" down the slough on a warm Sunday afternoon !

Yester Year's River Picture of the Day  ------  What picture was steering RiverBill's up-river on this day in years past ? 

~~^~~^~~^~~^~~^~~^~~^~~^~~^~~^~~

  CLICK ON PICTURE TO ENLARGE

The "Picture of the Day"  in 2005  was sent in by Steve Schulte .  It's a shot of  a couple of weird looking ducks, called "Hooded Mergansers", on the Mississippi River near the Alton Lock and Dam.    

Mississippi River Forecast….  Click here today's river stages and forecast.  

Capt'n Jack's   ------ Opens Tomorrow.....April 11

Friday..April 13...........Music by Ray The DJ 

Grand Opening.......... Saturday, April 14th

Music by the band Rail

Click here for Capt'n Jack's  website

CLICK ON PICTURE TO ENLARGE

Sharky's Pimp & Ho Ball........ was last Saturday night.   Click here for more pictures from the ball.  The new ones in the album were sent in by Frances Kennedy.

 More pictures later !

Missouri State Water Patrol News Release.....

    2007 Verification Stations ------  The Missouri State Water Patrol has issued a News Release with the locations of the 2007 verification stations.  In the St. Louis area the stations are located at the Blanchette Landing Missouri River Access and  Meramac River at George Winter Park. 

Click here to read the Missouri State Water Patrol News Release N07070010

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   I wasn't sure what a Verification was, so I e-mail my question to Lou Amighetti of the Missouri Water Patrol.  Lou was kind enough to explain as follows:

Bill,
The MSWP conducts verifications on boats, motors, and trailers that are purchased instate, out of state, with titles, without titles, missing serial #s, etc... These verifications are necessary for someone to register their property with the Dept of Revenue. We perform hundreds of these a year just in the St. Louis area. In the process of running these boats, motors and trailers, we recover stolen and missing property often. 


Patrolman Lou Amighetti 
Missouri State Water Patrol 
Water Patrol Officer/PIO
District 5

RiverBill's Classifieds ------ Added a Classified Section !        Click here

The link is in the upper left hand column.

Bald Eagle Shootings ------  According to an article in the on-line Post Dispatch..... The Illinois Conservation Police are looking into the shootings and related deaths of two bald eagles in Fulton County, southwest of Peoria near the Illinois River.  

   A mature bald eagle was found on Jan. 6 after it had been shot near Banner, IL and died three days later.   A younger bald eagle was found dead near Smithfield, IL on Feb. 11.  A shotgun blast was the cause of both deaths.

  Click here to read the story in the on-line STLtoday.com

Missouri River Relief ------  Yesterday's edition of the on-line Post Dispatch had an update on the Missouri River Relief ..... This year's cleanup starts at St. Louis and goes 805 river miles up the Missouri River to Yankton, S.D

 Click here ..and scroll down to read the story in the on-line STLtoday.com

Post-9/11 Recreational Boating Restrictions ------ Larry Demko, of Fastrac Media, sent us an e-mail that we posted yesterday about the recreational boaters' role in keeping our waterways safe and secure.  We posted it with a link to the  Massachusetts boating handbook.  Like Larry stated the rules are the same.....but here is the link to the US Coast Guard Homeland Security website containing the same information.

http://www.safeboatingcouncil.org/resources/waterwaysenglish.pdf.

 Monday ....  09 April  2007 

 Welcome !......Metro East FiberGlass .." Boat Repair"

Click here

CLICK ON PICTURE TO ENLARGE

Our River Picture of the Day........ is of a very strange looking boat that Carl Sondker took while vacationing in Cabo San Lucas.

RiverBill says...Thanks for the picture Carl !

Yester Year's River Picture of the Day  ------  What picture was steering RiverBill's up-river on this day in years past ? 

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  CLICK ON PICTURE TO ENLARGE

The "Picture of the Day"  in 2006  was of  from  Steve Schulte.  Its a shot of the Marine-Max Port Arrowhead Gateway Getaway.........right in front of the St. Louis Arch...17 boats made the cruise !

  Steve said it was a great day....

For more Port Arrowhead Cruise Club click here or on their link in the left hand column of this web page.

Mississippi River Forecast….  Click here today's river stages and forecast.  

Post-9/11 Recreational Boating Restrictions ------ Larry Demko, of Fastrac Madia, sent us an e-mail about some of the things he learned in a boating course that he just took.

Larry wrote:

I just attended a Boating Course with my 13 year old granddaughter as she wants to operate our SeaDoo. Since even old (sea) dogs can learn new tricks, I 'm passing along some Post-9/11 recreational boating restrictions that I wasn't aware of.   I thought the information might benefit everyone. 

These are from the Massachusetts boating handbook, but are the federal guidelines (I had the federal link, but can't find it now.)
Here's the link:

http://www.boat-ed.com/ma/handbook/homelandsecurity.htm

Recreational boaters have a role in keeping our waterways safe and secure.  Violators of the restrictions below can expect a quick and severe response.

* Homeland security restrictions

Do not approach within 100 yards, and slow to minimum speed within 500 yards of any U.S. Naval vessel. If you need to pass within 100 yards of a U.S. Naval vessel for safe passage, you must contact the U.S. Naval vessel or the Coast Guard escort vessel on VHF-FM channel 16.

* Observe and avoid all security zones. Avoid commercial port areas, especially those that involve military, 
cruise-line or petroleum facilities. Observe and avoid other restricted areas near dams, power plants, etc.

* Do not stop or anchor beneath bridges or in channels.

Keep a sharp eye out for anything that looks peculiar or out of the ordinary. Report all suspicious activities to the local law enforcement or USCG.

RiverBill says....Thanks for the info Larry.    

CLICK ON PICTURE TO ENLARGE

Sharky's Pimp & Ho Ball........ was last Saturday night.  Above are "Pimp Boat Daddy John"  and the girls.  Click here for more pictures from the Ball

 More pictures later !

RiverBill's Classifieds ------ Added a Classified Section !        Click here

The link is in the upper left hand column.

Dan's Boats ------ All new Regal Cruiser’s and Yachts get one full year of free service calls to your slip on the Mississippi River !              Click here

River History

April 7, 2003 -----  Ground Breaking for National Rivers Research Center.

     Click here for more info

April 8, 2001 ------- Newly Constructed Melvin Price Lock opened for barge traffic.

The RiverBills.com Calendar ------ for April 2007 is out ! Hang it on your wall or make it a screen saver for your PC. 

To make a wall calendar.....click on the picture above for an enlarged view and print it on a piece of 8 1/2 X 11 photo paper. Set the paper to "landscape" and "center" the photo on the paper.
Enjoy


RiverBill says...I was way behind schedule on getting April's calendar up on the web and Sharon Gwillim helped me out with a nice "reminder e-mail" and one of her great sunset pictures. This one was taken near Hamburg, Illinois  Thanks Sharon ! 

Capt'n Jack's   ------ Opens this Wed.....April 11

Friday..April 13...........Music by Ray The DJ 

Grand Opening.......... Saturday, April 14th

Music by the band Rail

Click here for Capt'n Jack's  website

Found….  Box of tools.... at the Yacht Club of St. Louis. 

         To claim.....e-mail RiverBill with description .. riverbill@prodigy.net

 Fri, Sat, Sun ....  06, 07, 08 April  2007 

 Updated Sun @10:15 AM

CLICK ON PICTURE TO ENLARGE

Our River Picture of the Day....(Sunday).... is from Pimp and Ho Ball at Sharky's Cove last night.  Above are John and Bernie Patrico ...and...  Cindy and John Binado all dressed up for the affair.  

 More pictures later !

CLICK ON PICTURE TO ENLARGE

Our River Picture of the Day....(Saturday).... was sent in by John.......It's a shot of  Mr CocKtail.

John wrote:

This photo was taken July 2006 just outside of Portage Island coming from Sioux Harbor heading up river to the Mason chute. When this photo was taken I was reaching for a cold beverage.

RiverBill says....... Thanks for the picture  !

CLICK ON PICTURE TO ENLARGE

Our River Picture of the Day....(Friday).... was sent in by H.R. Schmidt.  It's of a line of pelicans on a log in the Illinois River just below Pere Marquette.

RiverBill says....... Good picture !  I notice another pelican on the left side of the pictures working his way near the log.  I bet he is eyeing-up the empty spot on the end.

Yester Year's River Picture of the Day  ------  What picture was steering RiverBill's up-river on this day in years past ? 

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  CLICK ON PICTURE TO ENLARGE

  Saturday  

The "Picture of the Day"  in 2005  was of  boats all anchored-out and rafted-up at the 2001 Shoot Out.   This picture is was sent in by Tom and Sandy. 

  CLICK ON PICTURE TO ENLARGE

  Friday

The "Picture of the Day"  in 2006  was from Robert "SlowRide" Cope.  He and his 1st mate took Slow Ride (see it through the brush) out for a cruise ...and... look what they found.   A nest full of goose eggs right on top of a duckblind

Mississippi River Forecast….  Click here today's river stages and forecast.  

Grafton Ferry Update ------  According to a news article in the on-line Post Dispatch..... the Grafton Ferry was back in business on Friday morning as advertised. 

  Click here to read the story in the on-line STLtoday.com

Saturday  April 7

3rd Annual Pimp and the Hoe Ball 
     Party starts at 8:00
     Live Music at 9:00
1st Prize $100 cash and 20% off your alcohol for 1 full year.

Click here to go to Sharky's Cove website

RiverBill's Classifieds ------ Added a Classified Section !        Click here

The link is in the upper left hand column.

Dan's Boats ------ All new Regal Cruiser’s and Yachts get one full year of free service calls to your slip on the Mississippi River !              Click here

The RiverBills.com Calendar ------ for April 2007 is out ! Hang it on your wall or make it a screen saver for your PC. 

To make a wall calendar.....click on the picture above for an enlarged view and print it on a piece of 8 1/2 X 11 photo paper. Set the paper to "landscape" and "center" the photo on the paper.
Enjoy


RiverBill says...I was way behind schedule on getting April's calendar up on the web and Sharon Gwillim helped me out with a nice "reminder e-mail" and one of her great sunset pictures. This one was taken near Hamburg, Illinois  Thanks Sharon ! 

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

Mississippi River (above St. Louis):

 54 degrees, falling, muddy; channel catfish fair on nightcrawlers; blue catfish fair on cut bait; all other species slow. 

(Report made on 4/5/2007)

Missouri River (below New Haven)

Rising, muddy; Catfish fair on natural bait; all other species slow. (Report made on 4/5/2007)

Check out the report for the entire state of Missouri

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

St. Charles boat and Motor is Expanding.......... Jim Murray from St. Charles Boat and Motor sent us the following Press Release.

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* For Immediate Release *

St. Charles Boat & Motor
3070 North Hwy 94
St. Charles , Mo 63301

April 5, 2007

After over forty years in the same location we are expanding! 

St. Charles Boat & Motor is selling/leasing our 7000 square foot parts and accessories building. We will be constructing a new 10,000 square foot glass front show room off of our existing building, which is located next door at 3080 N. Hwy 94. This is our current show room & service facility. Our new 10,000 square foot sales show room will have a glass front, for excellent visibility from the highway. This expansion will in no way interfere with business. We will continue to serve our loyal customers with our 100% commitment to quality service and sales. This should be a very smooth transition into our new facility. Any questions or comments should be directed to Jerry Sims or Ray Machens at (636) 947-0106 during normal business hours or in writing at the address above. Email contact for both Jerry and Ray should be sent to ray@stcharlesboat.com. 

About St. Charles Boat & Motor- With over 40 years in the same location, St. Charles Boat and Motor is one of the most experienced marine dealers in the St. Louis Metropolitan area. We offer Top quality boats with value for your dollar and the experience to help guide you to find the perfect boat you have been looking for. 

At St. Charles Boat and Motor you will also find the experienced sales and factory certified technicians to provide outstanding service long after the sale is complete. 

The Ship's Store contains all of the latest accessories along with the usual things needed for a fun day on the water and also a large assortment of unique marine related gift items for the hard to buy for boater in your family on birthdays and holidays

-END-

Grafton Ferry Update ------ Talked to the folks in the Grafton Ferry Company on Monday afternoon.......     The ferry is scheduled to be back in service at the usual time on Friday morning.....
 

Capt'n Jack's   ------ Opens Next Wed.....April 11

Friday..April 13...........Music by Ray The DJ

Grand Opening.......... Saturday, April 14th

Music by the band Rail

Click here for Capt'n Jack's  website

Sharky's Cove   ------ New Hours

Open Mon, Tue, Wed  at      ......4:30 PM 

Open Thur, Fri, Sat, Sun  at...... 11:00 Noon                            

Found….  Box of tools.... at the Yacht Club of St. Louis. 

         To claim.....e-mail RiverBill with description .. riverbill@prodigy.net

 Thursday .... 05 April  2007........ 

CLICK ON PICTURE TO ENLARGE

Our River Picture of the Day...... is from Rick Estes, who hails out of Lake Center Marina in the cruiser Y2Katy.  Rick turned on his artistic abilities over the past Winter and created a real work of prop-art !

Rick wrote:

Hey, Bill!
   I guess I had a little too much spare time over the winter, dreaming of warmer days on the river. I spent a couple of hours with a welder and a sawzall, miscellaneous hardware and an old damaged prop. None of those cheap plastic hitch propellers for us!

Rick, Mary & Katy (Y2Katy)
Lake Center Marina

RiverBill says....... Wow...now that should keep people from parking to close to your bumper.  Good job Rick !

One question.....

How did you figure out what pitch worked best on that truck ?  

Yester Year's River Picture of the Day  ------  What picture was steering RiverBill's up-river on this day in years past ? 

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  CLICK ON PICTURE TO ENLARGE

  The "Picture of the Day"  in 2005  was of a couple of   boats anchored behind Two Branch Island .   The boats were at the down-river end of the island.   Winneberg subdivision, on the Illinois side of the river, is in the background

Mississippi River Forecast….  Click here today's river stages and forecast.  

Dan's Boats ------ All new Regal Cruiser’s and Yachts get one full year of free service calls to your slip on the Mississippi River !              Click here

1996 Sea Ray 400 Sedan Bridge
For Sale

For Sale ..... “Swing Set” 

   “Swing Set” is berthed at the Duck Club Yacht Club in E-76. Twin Diesel 3116 Caterpillars make her one of the fastest on the river in her class. Each 350 H.P. engine is equipped with dual Racor fuel filters and Walker Air Seps for smoke free operation. 8.5 KW Westerbeke generator provides plenty of power for the two reverse cycle air/heat units. This model has the two stateroom layout, each with it’s own head and separate shower. The galley is two steps down from the salon and features a full size A/C Norcold refrigerator/freezer, four burner electric range and microwave. The raised dinette gives everyone a 360 degree view of the outside action. The captain has a commanding view from the bridge and is assisted by Raymarine radar, chartplotter, GPS, Loran, VHF (another in the salon), power windlass, remote stereo control. This boat has never been in saltwater and has been professionally maintained and regularly washed and waxed.
Swing Set is offered at $229,000.00 and owner may consider a trade. Contact Mike at 314-249-7410 or e-mail to swingset@birch.net

Grafton Ferry Update ------ Talked to the folks in the Grafton Ferry Company on Monday afternoon.......     The ferry is scheduled to be back in service at the usual time on Friday morning.   
 

Found….  Box of tools.... at the Yacht Club of St. Louis. 

         To claim.....e-mail RiverBill with description .. riverbill@prodigy.net

Capt'n Jack's   ------ Opens Next Wed.....

Friday...........Music by Ray The DJ

Grand Opening.... Saturday, April 14th

Music by the band Rail

Click here for Capt'n Jack's  website

Sharky's Cove   ------ New Hours

Open Mon, Tue, Wed  at      ......4:30 PM 

Open Thur, Fri, Sat, Sun  at...... 11:00 Noon                            

 Wednesday .... 04 April  2007........ 

Eric doing a little "April Fools Day" wakeboarding !

Don't try this at home !

Sure glad the Water Patrol wasn't around !

Whitney, Eric, Josh, Dave and Erin

CLICK ON PICTURE TO ENLARGE

Our River Pictures of the Day...... were taken last Sunday, April Fools Day,  while anchored up and rafted up in Snake Chute near the UMR 224 mile marker of the Mississippi River. 

April Fools Day Wakeboarding  

   Some just can't wait to get out and start the Wakeboarding Season.   Whitney, Eric, Josh, Dave and Erin are some of those type of boaters.   Let's go.....who cares if it's April 1st....who cares the water is a bit cold yet...It's Sunday...the sun is out...we are young....we have a wetsuit.......Lets go !   

RiverBill says....... Glad we got to meet all of you...And...thanks for the show !  

Yester Year's River Picture of the Day  ------  What picture was steering RiverBill's up-river on this day in years past ? 

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  CLICK ON PICTURE TO ENLARGE

  The "Picture of the Day"  in 2006  was of  some  boats lined up along the beach   at Iowa Island and some of the river crew posing for a picture for RiverBill's.   What a beautiful river-day !

RiverBill says...Anyone notice that Dutch and the Scoundrel were anchored there that afternoon as well.

Mississippi River Forecast….  Click here today's river stages and forecast.  

Dan's Boats ------ All new Regal Cruiser’s and Yachts get one full year of free service calls to your slip on the Mississippi River !              Click here

Missouri State Water Patrol News Release ...... Spring Boating Tips Alton Pool

   Patrolman, Lou Amighetti sent us the following News Release.  Please take a minute to read it.  I think it contains a lot of good information.

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NEWS RELEASE
PUBLIC INFORMATION SECTION, P.O. Box 1368, Jefferson City, MO65102 

MSWP Offers Spring Boating Tips

Spring is in full swing now.  We are starting to see river levels approaching flood stage.  Remember that the river will also carry many added dangers with raising water levels.  First, the debris that was once on the islands and land is now floating on the water’s surface or partially submerged.  That is an obvious hazard to outdrives and boat hulls.  Secondly, many wing dykes are not visible anymore.  If you are entering in an area that you are unsure a wing dyke may be located, proceed slowly or avoid it completely.  Lastly, while enjoying the water remember that the water is still deadly cold.  Water temperatures will not reach comfortable temperatures until late May.  Be careful entering the water, hypothermia can occur where the temperature of the water is less than your core body temperature.  It is recommended that you wear insulated clothing or a wetsuit to guard against body heat loss.

Spring brings the warm weather and the annual task of preparing your boat for another season of fun filled carefree boating. Some attention and maintenance now could prevent aggravation and down time during the busiest peak of the season. Take a little time before you hit the waterways to ensure your equipment is in the best possible condition. Review the boating laws and consider some pre-planning strategies as you prepare for that first outing. Here are a few things to think about as the boating season approaches.

· Perform a general all around inspection and cleaning of your boat and trailer. Even though you may have properly winterized your boat, it still can accumulate dirt and debris. A clean hull glides more easily through the water.

· Check all electrical wiring and outlets on both the boat and trailer. Make sure wires are not frayed and all lights work properly. Check the batteries for charge and corrosion on the terminals. It would not hurt to take an extra battery with you in case the primary battery fails. Extra fuses are always an appropriate addition.

· Make sure you lubricate all hinges, latches and grease zerts. Take a look at the wheel bearings on your trailer before heading to the water to make sure they are in good shape and well greased. Check the trailer tires' pressure and condition.

· Check all your safety equipment for any signs of wear or damage. Personal Flotation Devices (PFD's) are the most important item of safety equipment you can have on board. Make sure your PFD's are serviceable, accessible, and sized to each person onboard who will be wearing it.

· It is a good idea to develop a pre-departure checklist to use before every outing. The list should include pre-trip maintenance, complete boat inspections, safety equipment inspections, and emergency items that you may need. A basic tool box, flashlight and batteries, radio equipment and a cell phone can be very handy during an emergency. Also, be sure you check the weather forecast and watch the skies for sudden changes.

· Be sure the boat's engine and fuel systems are operating efficiently. The price of fuel on the waterways may hit all time highs this year, so it could be advantageous to your wallet to look at measures to reduce fuel consumption. Check hoses and fuel lines for leaks and replace fuel filter and filter/water separator elements annually. Change spark plugs and plug wires if worn or cracking is visible.  Do an engine tune-up to increase fuel efficiency. Gasoline can break down when it is allowed to set unused and leave gummy deposits in the boat's fueling system. When operating a boat, you can conserve fuel by operating your boat at a speed that will just keep the boat on plane. Cruising at lower RPM's saves gas and lets you enjoy the ride. Another way to save fuel is to enjoy your boat when stationary. Find a quiet cove and shut the engines off for periods of time. Do not take any items along in your boat that add unnecessary weight. A heavier boat will use more fuel than a lighter boat of the same size. It is always exciting to take the boat out for the first time every spring.

 Safety should be a priority as the waterways fill with boaters. It is crucial that each boat operator be knowledgeable of boating laws and practice safe boating. Always be aware of your surroundings as you boat and be courteous to your fellow boaters. The goal of every water bound vacation is to return home safely.

For additional information please visit www.mswp.dps.mo.gov

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RiverBill says...Thanks Lou for the "Alton Pool Boating Tips"......See ya on the river !

 Tuesday .... 03 April  2007........ 

CLICK ON PICTURE TO ENLARGE

Our River Picture of the Day...... was taken last Sunday while anchored up and rafted up in Snake Chute near the UMR 224 mile marker of the Mississippi River. The chute provided a sunny spot out of the wind to enjoy a lazy Sunday afternoon on the river enjoying good company and good weather.

RiverBill says....... Thanks for the boat ride Jim and Fran Blizzard !

Yester Year's River Picture of the Day  ------  What picture was steering RiverBill's up-river on this day in years past ? 

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  CLICK ON PICTURE TO ENLARGE

  The "Picture of the Day"  in 2006  was of  John Biando, in his red zute suit, and the Sharks belting out the tunes at last year's Pimp and Hoe Ball at Sharky's Cove.

This year's Pimp and Hoe Ball is scheduled for Saturday, April 7th.

Party starts a... 8:00 PM
Live Music at.... 9:00 PM

1st Prize $100 cash and 20% off your alcohol for 1 full year.

Mississippi River Forecast….  Click here today's river stages and forecast.  

The April Issue of  Heartland Boating Magazine ------   that is titled "Gateway Getaway" features work by two St. Louis boaters that we know !  The magazine cover is a photo by Steve Schulte and  an article in the magazine, titled "Tie Up the Boat, Tie Down the Boat", was written by Sherri Stanczak

Congratulations from RiverBills.com

to Steve and Sherri !

RiverBill says......Looks like the cover picture could be the Marine Max - Port Arrowhead April Cruise featured as picture of the day April 09, 2006 on RiverBills.com.  Click here and take a look/sea..

Dan's Boats ------ All new Regal Cruiser’s and Yachts get one full year of free service calls to your slip on the Mississippi River !              Click here

Grafton Ferry Update ------ Talked to the folks in the Grafton Ferry Company on Monday afternoon.......     The ferry is scheduled to be back in service at the usual time on Friday morning.   
 

  CLICK ON PICTURE TO ENLARGE

Water Patrol Assigns Special Response Team  ------ Patrolman Lou Amighetti, of the Missouri State Water Patrol, sent us an e-mail with a link to a  MSWP News Release and some pictures of their SWAT Team.

Lou wrote:

These are pictures of the Missouri State Water Patrol SWAT Team 
training in southern Missouri. The MSWP SWAT Team has already responded to several manhunts, high risk search warrants and other dangerous situations throughout the state. This is a great addition to multi-faceted agency.

Patrolman Lou Amighetti 
Missouri State Water Patrol 
Water Patrol Officer/PIO
District 5

Click here to read the MSWP News Release.

RiverBill says....Thanks for the info Lou !  

Paying Too Much For  Boat Insurance ?....... Check out Mixon Insurance. 

Fill out Bill Mixon's  on-line quote form for a fast, friendly insurance quote for rates on your boat..

Found….  Box of tools.... at the Yacht Club of St. Louis. 

         To claim.....e-mail RiverBill with description .. riverbill@prodigy.net

Sharky's Cove   ------ New Hours

Open Mon, Tue, Wed  at      ......4:30 PM 

Open Thur, Fri, Sat, Sun  at...... 11:00 Noon                            

RiverBill's Visitor Stats ------  The visitor stats are in for March 2007...

38,440 unique visitors !

 -  Up 14,000 from the March 2006 numbers

Click here to look at the visitor stats chart.

 Monday .... 02 April  2007........ 

CLICK ON PICTURE TO ENLARGE

Our River Picture of the Day...... was taken Sunday morning on our way to the river.   It's a bicyclist pulling a canoe along the path that goes around Creve Coeur Lake in Maryland Heights, Mo.. Just something you don't see everyday !

Yester Year's River Picture of the Day  ------  What picture was steering RiverBill's up-river on this day in years past ? 

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  CLICK ON PICTURE TO ENLARGE

  The "Pictures of the Day"  in 2006  were sent to us by Marty Haugh, who hails out of Johns Harbor.  Marty sent us some pictures of the Antique and Classic Boat Society's annual boat show in Mt. Dora, Florida.

Mississippi River Forecast….  Click here today's river stages and forecast.  

More Spring Ice Breaker Pictures ! ------  Captain Darryll Weil sent us an e-mail stating that the Con Trios Yatch Club's web site has been updated with some more pictures  from Maureen and Mary Beth of the Spring Ice Breaker Party at Pere Marquette.

Click here ....and take a....Look / Sea... 

RiverBill says........Thanks Maureen & Mary Beth.......Keep up the good work Darryll !

CPR Classes for Con Trios Yacht Club Members ------     The Con Trios Yacht Club and the St. Charles County Ambulance District will be hosting a CPR class on Saturday, May 12th at the Duck Club Yacht Club Starboard Room - Time 9:00 am to 3:00 pm. Deadline for signing up is April 12th. 

   Con Trios members... email the webmaster@contriosyachtclub.org   if you are interested.

Navigation Season Begins on Missouri River ------     on April 1st at St. Louis.

Click here for more info.

A Bit Of Boating Sarcasm ------    Do you think that the boating laws are tough around the St. Louis area ?  .....click on the link below and take a look / sea...at the OmahaRiverFront.com's  pic-of-the-month....

It's Titled

New 2007 Boating Law enforcement policy on the River 

Grafton Ferry Update ------ Talked to the folks in the Grafton Ferry Company on Friday afternoon     The Coast Guard is going to do an inspection on Monday.....The ferry should be back in service sometime this week.    
   Stay tuned for more information as it becomes available

Sharky's Cove   ------ New Hours

Open Mon, Tue, Wed  at      ......4:30 PM 

Open Thur, Fri, Sat, Sun  at...... 11:00 Noon                            

River History

March 30, 1938 -----  Dam No. 3 on the upper Mississippi River was completed.

     Click here for more info

April 01, 1870  ----- West pier of Eads Bridge reached bedrock.

     Click here for more info.

Paying Too Much For  Boat Insurance ?....... Check out Mixon Insurance. 

Fill out Bill Mixon's  on-line quote form for a fast, friendly insurance quote for rates on your boat..

Found….  Box of tools.... at the Yacht Club of St. Louis. 

         To claim.....e-mail RiverBill with description .. riverbill@prodigy.net

 Fri, Sat, Sun .... 30, 31 march & 01 April  2007........

Welcome To The Weekend 

@ 11:50 AM

Our River Picture of the Day...Sunday... is of some of the River Crew at Longshot Saloon on Saturday night.    Longshot Saloon is located on the river at Portage Des Sioux .  They are open for the season.... 636- 899 - 1104

Open Thurs & Fri  at ......4:00PM   

Open Sat & Sun  at...... 12:00 Noon

Happy Hour 4 -7 PM on Thurs & Fri...$1.75 Beer...$0.35 Wings

Thurs...$0.69 Tacos 7-9 PM

Appetizers, Pizzas, Burgers 

Full menu coming soon

@ 8:00 AM

Our River Pictures and e-mail of the Day...Saturday... are from Jan DeSherlia of Grafton Harbor fame. 

Jan wrote:

Hi Bill,

We have a slip holder that has earned the name "Bumper" here at Grafton Harbor.
He thought that he could get even with us by paying his annual slip rental in one dollar bills!

Brian and Linda are enjoying a beautiful March day in their dingy! How lucky are we to have such great weather this time of year.

Jan

CLICK ON PICTURE TO ENLARGE

CLICK ON PICTURE TO ENLARGE

Our River Picture and e-mail of the Day...Friday... are from Tauni Shuck.  He sent us another flood picture.  

Tauni wrote:

Hey Bill,

    How are ya doing? I am itching for this water to start 
dropping.
Slipped off today with Johnny P of Eagles Landing for a river day and snapped this shot of the high water coming into Eagles Landing marina

Tauni

RiverBill says.... Thanks for the picture Tanui.....  A person can get a feel for how much the water has come up by looking at your picture.. Helps put it all in perspective.   

Yester Year's River Picture of the Day  ------  What picture was steering RiverBill's up-river on this day in years past ? 

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  CLICK ON PICTURE TO ENLARGE

Sunday @ 4:00 PM

  The "Picture of the Day"  in 2005  was   is an aerial shot of the   Missouri River, Highway 40 bridge and a great sunset   taken by Steve Schulte 

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  CLICK ON PICTURE TO ENLARGE

Saturday

  The "Picture of the Day"  in 2005  was  great view from the deck   of Aeries Riverview Winery, located high on the bluffs above Grafton, IL.

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  CLICK ON PICTURE TO ENLARGE

Friday 

  The "Pictures of the Day" on this day in 2005  were a series of  6 pictures named,  "It doesn't look good !"     What is that guy doing wading in the water at the boat ramp ?     Again, we have a few clues -- OH NO !.   it's another vehicle in the water.   Keep pulling -- just a little further.    OK -   Just a little more ---Pull !  Now that we are checking things out --   are there any fish in there ?     Yes, everyone agrees What a mess !     

    These pictures were taken by Lisa Beckman a couple of summers ago at the Long Shot Saloon in Portage Des Sioux.   She was quick to point out that it wasn't her truck, nor did it belong to any of her friends and that it took two different tow trucks to get it out. 

@ 1:00 PM

IDNR NEWS RELEASE..... CPO II Jon Davis of the IL. Conservation Police sent us some information about National Safe Boating Week, press releases on the  Illinois Department of Natural Resources (IDNR) web site, along with safety courses and boating rules and regulations.

RiverBill,

   Hope everyone is having a safe spring. With National Safe Boating Week coming up this May 19-25, 2007, just before the Memorial Day holiday, check out the IDNR web-site and go under the press releases section for March. 
    This will give updated information on boat safety courses. Illinois also has an on-line safety course that is offered for a small fee.   All boating related rules and regulations can be accessed by going to the IDNR homepage, click under agency offices, then click on legislation. 

   All compiled statutes, and administrative rules will be available 
there.


CPO II Jon Davis, IL. Conservation Police
Region IV, Dist. 9

RiverBill says...Thanks for the information Jon....Please continue to keep us informed.

@2:45

Grafton Ferry Update ------ Talked to the folks in the Grafton Ferry Company on Friday afternoon     The Coast Guard is going to do an inspection on Monday.....The ferry should be back in service sometime next week.    
   Stay tuned for more information as it becomes available

Long Shot Saloon  ------ opens for business this weekend !  

  Portage Des Sioux  ........ 636- 899 - 1104 

Open Thurs & Fri  at ......4:00PM 

Open Sat & Sun  at...... 12:00 Noon                            

Happy Hour 4 -7 PM on Thurs & Fri...$1.75 Beer...$0.35 Wings

Thurs...$0.69 Tacos 7-9 PM  

Appetizers, Pizzas, Burgers 

Full menu coming soon

ITCS Memo 2519 ....Lock 24 ...Scheduled Closure Cancelled ---  The 3rd scheduled closure of lock 24 has been cancelled. The Corps of Engineers has completed all necessary work during first 2 scheduled closures. 

Click here to read the ITCS Memo #2519  

Mississippi River Forecast….  Click here today's river stages and forecast.  

Missouri Conservation Magazine........The April on-line edition of  Missouri Conservationist on-line Magazine is out..      

Click here to take a look !

Missouri River Communities Network........Added a link to the Missouri River Communities Network website in the left hand column.  

   "The Missouri River Communities Network (MRCN) is a nonprofit organization whose mission is to preserve and restore the historic, cultural and natural resources of the Missouri River and its surrounding communities, and to encourage citizen participation in these endeavors."

    Click here to go to the Missouri River Communities Network website. 

Saturday  May 12 ..........       

Missouri River Relief 

Clean-up Banks of Missouri River Near St. Charles 

Assemble at the pavilion near the Lewis & Clark Boathouse adjacent to riverfront Frontier Park in St. Charles

For more info go to:

http://www.riverrelief.org/events/07stcharles.html

With Deepest Sympathy........ Little John, of Little John's marine Service, sent us the following e-mail :

I am very saddened to let people know that Keith Ruf's uncle passed away this (Thursday) evening.

He happens to be one of three people left in Kieth's own family. The mans name is Edgar Swinsord (age mid 60s). Many of the older crowd on the river will know who I am speaking of. He and Kieth's father built the house that Kieth lives in. There are many pictures and old movies of life in our setting today, as it was then. (the 50s). In a better time, I know Keith will show them to people interested. Keith may or may not be happy for me to send this out, But this was a person that had the foresight and started the enjoyment of the river that we all enjoy today. I am calling out, as a true river person, for people to come and show respect for one of the people that started in making our great river experiences possible for all of us.

Kieth , Ashly, and Casy really need a hug right now, they really have their hands full. This gentleman's wife needs to know that we, the people in today's world, appreciate just what her husband has done to get us where we are today.

Edgar Swinsord will be laid out at Baue Funeral home Sun. 2.00 till 5.00
                                                                  

Funeral Mon. 10.00

Thanks
Little John.