It's National Fishing and Boating Week !

 June 1 - 8

The Weekend Report

Fri, Sat 30, 31 May

Sun 01 June

2008

Over 1.4 Million Visitors Strong !

 Updated Sun at 5:50PM.New Advertiser...Jacquie Bird....Nation Boating & Fishing Week Press Release...News...Pic of the Day...River Levels

 Last Update Sat at 12:30PM...Dan's Boats is Closed...Women In Waders calendar link...Flood Warning..News, Pic of the Day, River Levels

 Updated last at 3:40PM   Mo Fishing Report....Doug Price Benefit...Updated Longshot's hours..Updated Sundowner's Weekend Bands ...Cedar Hill's hours and entertainment

Welcome New Advertisers !

Jacquie Bird

Free Boat Quotes      Same Day Coverage

636-219-3979      e-mail  jbird@hlia.net

"Protecting the American Dream"

Homeowners ..... Auto ..... Business ..... Boat..... Motorcycles

Click here for more info

Classic Marine

1248 Continental Dr

Wentzville, Mo

636- 887- 4006

Click here to check out their ad

Picture of the Day

Sunday

Click on pic to enlarge

The River Picture and e-mail of Day ....Sunday .. are from Pat Binder of Eagles Landing fame.

Hi Bill

Here is that Picture of Joe Determined to cut the grass dispite the
Flood.

Pat
 

RiverBill says...This picture is from two or three weeks ago...Eagles Landing is open for business.

Picture of the Day

Saturday

The River Picture and e-mail of Day ....Saturday.. are from Ron Bachman, who hails out of Woodland Marina in the boat "Done Looking".

Hello Bill,

     Here Are Some Pictures I Took In Front Of Our Boat "DONE LOOKING"  At Woodland Harbor.

     Looks As If The Little Fawn Is Saying, Keep Your Chin-Up. He`s Part Of The Landscape In Our Rock Garden.

Ron Bachman

 

Pictures of the Day

Friday

Click on pic to enlarge

The River Pictures and e-mail of Day ....Friday.. are from Steve Nonn, who hails out of Grafton Harbor

Hi Bill

We had a few good hours of sun last Sunday (Memorial Day weekend) to go for a boat ride and See Doo ride with our new puppy Stella

This is Stella on her first See Doo Ride with Kelsie Brown and Jayda Tite, the puppy loves the river,has no fear!

The second picture is Stella with Sue Brown and her daughter Kelsie on her first river ride on her owners boat, "Nothin But A Good Time"

Thanks for all you do at River Bills

Steve Nonn

Grafton Harbor
 

Yesteryears Picture of the Day

Sunday

The River Picture on This Day in 2005 ....Sunday...  was actually a "Historical Graph" of the   Water Temperature of Alton Pool from Jan 2004 until May 2005.    We had some questions on the Message Board in 2005 about the river water temperature.  The person wrote "Wondering what the average temperature of the river was last summer"  and "When will it get warmer ?"    

  ~~~~~~^~~~~~~^~~~~~~^~~~~~~^~~~~~~

Yesteryears Picture of the Day

Saturday

The River Picture on This Day in 2005 ....Saturday... was of a  paddle wheeler  in  Dardenne Slough.

 Last year Gary Mienershagen and crew spotted it in it's new home.....Key West, Florida.

  ~~~~~~^~~~~~~^~~~~~~^~~~~~~^~~~~~~

Yesteryears Picture of the Day

Friday

Click on pic to enlarge

The River Picture on This Day in 2005 ....Friday... was   3 BBQ pits full of ribs   at the 2005  "Raging Rivers Rib-A-Rama" on Iowa Island.  Carl is front and center showing off the ribs, Dave is on the right and Jim is in the back holding open the lids to the BBQ pits. ....and a group of  Red, White and Blue party goers !

  ~~~~~~^~~~~~~^~~~~~~^~~~~~~^~~~~~~

River Levels / Flood Warnings.........  

Click here for more information for water levels Lock and Dam 25

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

Click here for more information for water levels at Grafton

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

Click here for more information for water levels at Lock and Dam 26

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

   ~ Click here for current Doppler Radar and up-to-date River Levels / forecasts for Winfield, Grafton and Alton Dam 

~ Click here for the Nation Weather Service latest Flood Warning

~ Click here to go to NOAA River Flood Outlook website

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

 Active River Stage Map .........     Click here to activate map from NOAA's National Weather Service website then click on gauge location for current river level

Click here for map from Map Quest                    Click Here for website

 Updated Sun at 12:15PM

It's National Fishing and Boating Week !.......... June 1 - 8

Click here and check out TakeMeFishing.org website !

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

The following is an excerpt from the Recreational Boating & Fishing Foundation Press Release e-mailed to RiverBIll's

Press Release date...May 2008

From June 1 – 8, organizations across the country will encourage people to experience boating and fishing as a way to reconnect with nature and strengthen relationships. Throughout the week, various events will offer hands-on opportunities for families and friends to learn about these recreational pastimes while enjoying quality time together.

"National Fishing and Boating Week is the perfect time for people to experience the benefits of boating and fishing," said RBFF President and CEO Frank Peterson. "As our study indicates, families and friends that fish and boat together, have stronger relationships. We encourage people to get involved, especially our boating and fishing partners who can help inspire participation among their members and customers." 

RBFF's national study found that people who boat and fish are significantly more satisfied with their marriages, relationships and friendships than are non boaters and anglers. Other key findings include:

• Boaters and anglers are more likely to have close relationships with their children than non boaters and anglers
• Boaters and anglers report feeling more satisfied with their mental health than non boaters and anglers
• Boaters and anglers report that fishing has had a positive impact on their careers, with many of their best ideas coming to them while they're on the water

Click here to read the entire Press Release

on the

Recreational Boating & Fishing Foundation
 

 Updated Sun at 10:30AM

Update....Omaha Towboat, Missouri River

   According to a news story in the Alton Daily News, workers have plugged all the holes in the partially submerged towboat, "Omaha",  that ran aground on the Missouri River on Friday morning near West Alton.  The towboat was leaking diesel fuel.

  To read the news story, click here.
 

 Updated Sun at 10:15AM

Missouri State Water Patrol News Release.....

   Drowning ...Meramec River, Moselle, Mo ------  

   The Missouri State Water Patrol has issued the following News Release

Fatalities:

The above is reprinted from the Missouri State Water Patrol Website

Click here to go to the Missouri State Water Patrol website  

 Updated Sun at 2:20AM

R_E_S_P_E_C_T     

  "Respect those tows going up and down the river and use good judgment when you are near them" 

Kathy Flippo     

 Tow Talkin'        

Updated Sat at 7:50PM

RiverBill's Search .....

  Added a couple of search button's in the left hand column of RiverBill's

  Check them out..........

  Try the one below.....

RiverBill's

Search

Updated Sat at 4:50PM

Benefit for Darlene Skeen....

   Saturday June 28....Shirley's Bar....

Updated Sat at 2:30PM

Dan's Boats Is Closed....

  Below is the message on their website

Updated Sat at 9:30AM

2008 Calendar...Women in Waders

  Hey guys.....It's not to late to get your 2008 Calendar  

  Click here to check out the "Women in Waders"  2008 Calendar

Updated Sat at 9:00AM

Tow Ran Aground On Missouri River Near West Alton

   According to a news story on STLtoday.com ...a towboat ran aground near the 12 mile marker on the Missouri River West Alton on Friday morning. The crew of six men and a woman were not injured.   The tow was carrying about 20,000 gallons of diesel fuel and according to the news article probably less than 2,000 gallons leaked out.

To read this full news article, click here

Updated Sat at 8:45AM

Flood Warning

FLOOD WARNING
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE ST LOUIS MO
840 AM CDT SAT MAY 31 2008
...THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN ST LOUIS HAS ISSUED A FLOOD
WARNING FOR THE FOLLOWING RIVER IN MISSOURI...
CUIVRE RIVER NEAR TROY AFFECTING LINCOLN COUNTY
.THIS FLOOD WARNING IS A RESULT OF 1 TO 2.5 INCHES OF PRECIPITATION
THE PAST 24 HOURS AND NO PRECIPITATION FORECAST IN THE NEXT 24
HOURS...

Click here for more info
 

Updated Sat at 8:20AM

Fuel Barges Break Away In St. Louis

There were some fuel barges that broke away from a tow boat when it lost power. This happened just north of the McKinley Bridge. The Coast Guard said that they did not hit the bridge, but floated past it. They were recovered near the Eads and MLK Bridge. This happened around 3:00 pm on Tuesday afternoon. They are still investigating this incident.

To read the full news story in KSDK online, click here

Updated Sat at 8:20AM

Should You Use Sunscreen On Babies?

   On a KSDK online video, Jennifer Blom interviews a nurse from SSM about sunscreen. She asked if we should use sunscreen on babies. The nurse claims that with babies under six months of age we should ask our pediatrician about sunscreen. Babies over six months and children and adults of all ages should use sunscreen every time we go in the sun. Our bodies remember every sunburn our body has had. It can cause cancer later in life. With children, you should use a 15 spf or higher. It should be waterproof and be applied 30 minutes before going into the sun. She also says not to forget the tops of the ears, forehead and top of feet. Those are areas forgotten sometimes when it is applied.

To read more and watch the video, click here

Updated Fri at 3:40PM

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

Mississippi River (above St. Louis):

67 degrees, high, muddy; channel catfish fair on nightcrawlers; all other species slow.

(Report made on 5/29/2008)

Missouri River (below New Haven)

58 degrees, high, muddy; channel catfish fair on natural baits; all other species slow.

(Report made on 5/29/2008)

Check out the report for the entire state of Missouri

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

Updated Fri at 3:15AM

Benefit In loving memory of Doug Price 1963 to 2008.......

  
Saturday, May 31, 2008
Shirley’s Bar – 4:00pm to close
Location – 3065 N 94, St. Charles , MO

$10.00 Cover

Draft beer & Band will be included
All money raised will be contributed to the funeral expenses & to Doug’s wife, Tracy & their three young children, Riley 9, Jersey 2, and Emmitt 1.

We will have many items to raffle off through out the night.
(Please be present to win)

Questions please contact Clayton Price 636-299-7186

Updated Fri at 2:30AM

Corrected Hours Longshot Saloon.......    636- 899 - 1104

Hosted By Tony's on Main Street , St. Charles

Thursday.... .4PM -close
Friday ........ 4PM -close
Saturday.... .Noon -close
Sunday....... Noon -close

Our drink specials all summer long:
$2 Bud light, Bud Light Lime
$3 all other beers, wells
$4 bombs, tall

Our special this weekend is
Catfish in Andy's Seasoning served with fries and a side salad- $11.99

Updated Fri at 2:30AM

Cedar Hill's Business Hours....... 618 - 883- 4455

   Open Sat 11-9 (kitchen)-Bar when all the people are gone-or until 1:00 a.m.

   Sun 11-8 (kitchen)  Live entertainment on the deck 12:30 to 4:30 by Eclipse.

Navigation Notice .....

 To:        ALL MARINERS
From:    Coast Guard Upper Miss
Date:     5/29/08
Subject: Shoaling

NAVNOTICE # 1146

UPPER MISSISSIPPI RIVER
THE CG RECEIVED A REPORT OF SHOALING EXTENDING APPROX 25-50 FT INTO THE CHANNEL ALONG THE NUN BUOY LINE IVO MM 245.3 UMR WITH L/D 25 UPPER POOL GAUGE READING 432.45 ON THE 29MAY08. MARINERS ARE
REQUESTED TO KEEP A SHARP LOOKOUT AND TO TRANSIT THIS PORTION OF THE RIVER WITH EXTREME CAUTION.

Click here to go to NavNotice #1146

Click here to go to the United States Coast Guard ...CG/COE Hot Topics website for more information

Rafting Up .....   Mike and Rosie Holaus, who hail out of The Duck Club in the cruiser "Swing Set", sent us the following e-mail about "Rafting Up."

Hi Bill,

Rafting up season is finally upon us and some reminders may be in order for our boating friends out there.
When approaching a raft up, or other boats at anchor, assume that you will be putting out your ground tackle. If your boat is equipped with a good anchor and a windlass, this should be the rule rather than the exception, especially during an approaching weather front. Fast currents like we have right now make anchoring a tricky proposition, and the anchor holding a boat you are approaching to tie up to may be just barely holding that boat. Also, early in the year, fast currents and changing river bottoms over the winter may result in a "soft" bottom, also making some anchors difficult to obtain thier "bite". Tying up first, and then dropping your anchor straight down off your bow may show good intentions, but for the most part is ineffective unless there is no current or wind. It is necessary to tie up after dropping your hook unstream, or upwind, and then letting enough scope out to sufficiently hold your own vessel in the event circumstances require someone leaving in a hurry, paricularly if that someone has the only good anchor out.
Of course there can be exceptions, such as smaller vessels without windlasses, but take a queue from the vessels captain you are tying up to. Recently some friends approached just when the skies opened up and lightening was crashing all around. Getting them tied up and safely inside was the most important thing at that point, so some calculated risk was taken and it was decided to forgo an extra anchor at that point, but a close eye was kept on the bank to insure that the rest of the boats stayed hooked.
Hope these tips help. Sometimes rules like these may upset some other boaters, but it's better to ruffle some egos early on rather than risk health and property later on. Then it's too late.
 

P.S.
Sometimes "necked" women are "armed".

US Army Corps of Engineers News.........

St. Louis Hosts Midwest Levee Conference
 

St. Louis, May 29, 2008 - More than 300 levee experts representing a broad spectrum of specific interests in the nation’s flood protection system infrastructure will gather in St. Louis next week for a Midwest Levee Conference.  The conclave is being hosted  by the Society of American Military Engineers, St. Louis Post and the American Society of Civil Engineers, St. Louis Section, with strong participation by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, St. Louis District.

[ More ]

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

The above was reprinted from the US Army Corps of Engineers website.

Information presented on CorpsWeb public web sites is considered public information and may be distributed or copied.

River Grilling.........

   Which Is More Convenient – Gas Or Charcoal Grilling?

    With it being barbecue season now, many of us are getting out our grills. Some prefer to barbecue on the gas grill. They just get out their propane tanks, turn on the knob and put the meat on the grill. There’s no messy charcoal, smell of charcoal lighter and ashes to clean up afterward. That way is obviously quicker. Others prefer the charcoal grill. Even though it takes much longer because you have to wait for the hot coals to get hot before you can grill and then you have to clean up the ashes afterwards. Charcoal users would much rather have their food cooked that way because of the smoked taste that the charcoal adds to the food. Everyone has their favorite way to barbecue. What is yours?

To read this full article, click here on St. Charles Journal

Con Trios Yacht Club's Champagne Brunch......

Also a quick reminder to get your Champagne Brunch reservations in.

June 8th is coming quick!
 

RiverBill's May Calendar :     10x 8 for your wall .......       Click here

    A writer from Illinois, who has published more than 40 books, has recently published a new book. His books are usually of drawings in particular communities in Illinois. This book, however, is also of drawings, but he has allowed people in the communities say what they want and submit recipes. This book was written by the fall of 2007 and was on the bookshelves before Mother’s Day this year. His goal is to do 20,000 drawings in his lifetime. He has done 6,000 or 7,000 at this time.

 To read more about this writer and his books, click here on the telegraph.com

Top 10 Boating Destinations .........

   The on-line Mad Mariner Magazine has an article on the "Top 10 Boating Destinations" in the following categories........

Fishing, Sailing, Cruising, Watersports

  Click here and check-it-out !

RiverBill's Upcoming Events .....  There's a boatload of "River-Things-To-Do" listed on RiverBill's Upcoming Events page..... Click here and check-em out !

Help Wanted........
Cooks/Kitchen Help $7.50hr-Servers $4.50 plus tips. Seasonal. Cedar Hill Resort. Call 314-280-6729 or 618-883-4455

3rd Annual Classic Boat & Outboard Show... June 21-22, 2008..Grafton, IL 

www.missvaleyacbs.com

For more information about becoming a sponsor contact:

    Jack Hartwig...636-441-3559      James Tobin.....314-249-3965      Gene Hughes....314-291-1800

 Coming Soon

SAVE THE DELTA QUEEN

This Historic landmark Needs Your help !

A private initiative to save the steamboat Delta Queen

   August 12, 2008 5 p.m. St. Louis, Missouri
  August 13, 2008 Noon Alton, Illinois

River History...... Past Archives from the On-line Alton Telegraph

  Featured in the May 29 th edition of the on-line Alton Telegraph was a picture from 1970 of a bow hunting fisherman in the flood waters at Portage Des Sioux.

  Click here and take-a-look-back-in-river-time.

Thursday 29 May 2008

Over 1.4 Million Visitors Strong !

Picture of the Day

Click on pic to enlarge

The River Picture of Day ......  Was sent to us by Jan DeSherlia, of Grafton Harbor fame.   It's a picture of the harbor's pool being set in place !   It's going to make Grafton Harbor even a better boating destination.

See ya at the pool this summer !  

Yesteryears Picture of the Day

Click on pic to enlarge

The River Picture on This Day in 2005 ...  was of of a miniature   Tug Boat  entering Lake Center Marina.     

  ~~~~~~^~~~~~~^~~~~~~^~~~~~~^~~~~~~

River Levels / Flood Warnings.........  

Click here for more information for water levels Lock and Dam 25

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

Click here for more information for water levels at Grafton

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

Click here for more information for water levels at Lock and Dam 26

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

   ~ Click here for current Doppler Radar and up-to-date River Levels / forecasts for Winfield, Grafton and Alton Dam 

~ Click here for the Nation Weather Service latest Flood Warning

~ Click here to go to NOAA River Flood Outlook website

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

 Active River Stage Map .........     Click here to activate map from NOAA's National Weather Service website then click on gauge location for current river level

Navigation Notice .....

   Lock and Dam 25 Cloasure at MM 241.4 on 03 June 208

To:     ALL MARINERS
From:   Coast Guard Upper Miss
Date: 5/28/08
Subject: LOCK AND DAM 25 CLOSURE AT MM 241.4 UMR ON 03 JUNE 2008
NAVNOTICE # 1145

SUBJ: WESTERN RIVERS BNM NR 0195-08 UM
SAFETY AND SCHED BCSTS UNTIL 032030Z JUN 08
USCG NOTICE TO MARINERS EIGHTH DISTRICT NR 0195-08 UM
UPPER MISSISSIPPI RIVER
LOCK AND DAM 25 (LLNR 16095) AT MM 241.4 UMR WILL BE CLOSED TO
NAVIGATION ON 03 JUNE 2008 FROM 0730 CDT UNTIL 1530 CDT. THE CLOSURE IS NECESSARY TO REPLACE THE HIGH-SPEED COUPLING ON THE #1 MITER GATE.
DURING THIS TIME PERIOD OF THE CLOSURE, TOWS WILL BE ALLOWED TO WAIT ON THE GUIDE WALLS UNLESS DIRECTED BY THE LOCKMASTER. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION MARINERS MAY CONTACT THE LOCKMASTER ON VHF-FM RADIO CHNL 14 OR 16.
 

Click here to go to the United States Coast Guard ...CG/COE Hot Topics website for more information

Public Notices Open For Comment

   Posted on the US Army Corps Of Engineers Website.....

St. Louis Corps Of Engineers Permits Office Public Notices Open for Comment:.

P-2677: The US Army Corps of Engineers Project Management Branch requests Section 10 and Section 404 authorization to conduct stabilization repair measures at Lock and Dam Number 25, located at Mississippi River mile 241.5. The public notice comment period opens on May 23, 2008 and closes on June 6, 2008. 

Click here for more information on the above notice

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

The above was reprinted from the US Army Corps of Engineers website.

Information presented on CorpsWeb public web sites is considered public information and may be distributed or copied.

Flooded Roads ....Closures In West Alton, Missouri

    There have been many road closures with all of the flooding going on. On Hwy 94, near 67, in West Alton, there was about 2 or 3 feet of water standing on the road. The Missouri Department of Transportation worked to push the water off into nearby fields. Unfortunately, there is nowhere for the water to go. Since we are supposed to have a couple of dry days, they are hoping that it will have a chance to dry up. However, there is more rain in the forecast for Friday night and Saturday. Officials worry about people who try to go through the flooded waters, even after they have put up signs to warn people of the flooded roads. Many cars have been swept away and stranded in or on top of their cars.

To read more about these flooded roads on The Telegraph.com, click here

Cedar Hill Resort This Weekend..........

    Sat. Night ..

    Tom Flynn will be playing Good Olde Rock N Roll  from 7p.m. to 11:00

   Click here to check out all the river entertainment in RiverBill's Restaurant Section

LongShot Saloon at My River Home This Weekend..........

Hosted By Tony's on Main Street , St. Charles

Thursday- 4PM -close
Friday 4PM -close
Saturday 4PM -close
Sunday 4PM -close


Our drink specials all summer long:
$2 Bud light, Bud Light Line
$3 all other beers, wells
$4 bombs, tall

Our special this weekend is
Catfish in Andy's Seasoning served with fries and a side salad- $11.99

   Click here to check out all the river entertainment in RiverBill's Restaurant Section

The Mad Mariner Magazines Docking Game..........

    Play the docking game and Win an Edson PowerKnob

    Click here for more information.

Con Trios Yacht Club News......

From:      "Darryll Weil"
Subject:   Con Trios website update
Date:       Wed, 28 May 2008 17:24:39 -0500

Posted the following on the Con Trios Yacht Club website (www.contriosyachtclub.org)

May 28th, 2008
Got the following email from Bill & Linda Mixon (our famous chefs)