~~~~~~ RiverBill's Archives~~~~~~
January 2009

A WEBSITE FOR THE  BOATING COMMUNITY 

OF THE 

MISSISSIPPI, ILLINOIS AND MISSOURI RIVERS

Last Updated Sun at 6:00AM....River News

Welcome Back!

Picture of the Day

Frozen n' Open River

Sunday

Click on pic to enlarge

Our River Picture of the Day..... is of the Mississippi River in the Two Branch Island area.  The river is frozen from shore to shore in the area right in front of the camera, but a short distance down the river there is a large pocket of open water.

Picture of the Day

Watchin The River Flow

Saturday

Click on pic to enlarge

Our River Picture of the Day..... is of a couple on the snow covered St. Charles riverfront spending some time watching the Missouri River Flow by.

Yesteryears

Picture of the Day

Sunday

click on pic to enlarge

Yester Year's River Pictures of the Day in 2005----- was from the RiverCam at Winfield Lock and Dam on the Mississippi River........

 A Snowy Day on the River

Click here to go to the 

U.S. Army Corps of Engineers  Research and Development Center website

Yesteryears

Picture of the Day

Saturday

click on pic to enlarge

Yester Year's River Pictures of the Day in 2005----- was of the Grafton Ferry and a Wintertime Boater. It was taken from the Grafton Ferry landing on the Missouri side of the Mississippi River. The houses in the distance are on the bluffs along the Illinois River.

RiverBill says... Looks like Dutch in the cruiser ...."Scoundrel" heading up-river.

Navigation Notices ......

From: Coast Guard Upper Miss
Date: 1/30/09
Subject: Lock Restrictions
NAVNOTICE # 1553

UPPER MISSISSIPPI AND ILLINOIS RIVER
A. THE USACE HAS ISSUED THE FOLLOWING NOTICES FOR VESSELS
TRANSITING ON THE ILLINOIS WATERWAY SYSTEM.
B. VESSELS TRANSITING THE MARSEILLES AND STARVED ROCK LOCKS ARE
RESTRICTED TO 105 FOOT WIDTH. DOWNBOUND TOWS ARE RESTRICTED TO 400 FEET. DOUBLES WILL BE REQUIRED TO TRIP OR USE A HELPER BOAT TO ASSIST WITH THE FIRST CUT.
C. UPBOUND DOUBLES TRANSITING THE DRESDEN ISLAND LOCK WILL BE
REQUIRED TO TRIP OR USE A HELPER BOAT TO ASSIST WITH THE FIRST CUT.
D. PEORIA LOCK AND LEGRANGE LOCK ARE CURRENTLY UP WITH THE FOLLOWING RESTRICTIONS. TOWS ARE REQUIRED TO HAVE A WIDTH OF 105 FEET. DOUBLES WILL BE REQUIRED TO TRIP OR USE A HELPER BOAT TO ASSIST WITH THE FIRST CUT. LAGRANGE LOCK CAN PULL SOUTHBOUND CUTS.
E. ALL OTHER LOCKS ARE CURRENTLY UNDER NORMAL OPERATIONS.
F. ICE COUPLINGS ARE REQUIRED IN ALL LOCKS.
G. LOCK 24 ON THE UPPER MISSISSIPPI RIVER HAS REPORTED MAKING HARD CUTS.

From: Coast Guard Upper Miss
Date: 1/30/09
Subject: DAYBEACON DESTROYED
NAVNOTICE # 1552

SUBJ: WESTERN RIVERS BNM NR 0021-09 UM
SAFETY AND SCHED BCSTS UNTIL CANCELLED
USCG NOTICE TO MARINERS EIGHTH DISTRICT NR 0021-09 UM
ILLINOIS RIVER
COAL CREEK UPPER DAYBEACON (LLNR 7640) MM 85.8 UMR RDB. THE COAST GUARD RCVD A REPORT THAT THE LIGHT HAS BEEN DESTROYED DUE TO THE RIVER BANK COLLAPSING. MARINERS ARE REQUESTED TO TRANSIT THIS PORTION OF THE RIVER WITH CAUTION.

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

With Deepest Sympathy........

 Billy Joe Yates, Father of Bert Yates, Has Passed Away

Bert Yates' father, Billy Joe Yates, passed away on Wednesday, January 28th, 2009.

Mr. Yates will be laid out at the Chapel Hill Mortuary, 6300 Highway 30, Cedar Hill, MO 63016 on Monday, February 2nd from 2 PM to 9 PM.

Funeral will be on Tuesday, February 3rd at 10 AM from Chapel Hill.

Bert and Renee Yates

Members of Con Trios Yacht Club

Bert and Renee boat out of Eagles Landing Marina.

Photo courtesy of Con Trios Yacht Club

River Super Bowl Parties......
 

Oasis Bar & Grill Super Bowl Party...........click here

Palisades Yacht Club.... $1.00 Longnecks during game

Sundowners Super Bowl Pig Roast....click here

Super Bowl Pig Roast

Updated Sun at 8:30 AM

New Ad Size............

We have a new size ad on RiverBill's.... 160 pixel x 160 pixel..... with more information for you.....the consumer. 

Check them out.. gotboatgear.com and the Golden Eagle Ferry are the first advertisers to use the new size.   All ads in the right hand column will be updated to the new size....one at a time.

RiverBills.com

Where the Mississippi, Illinois and Missouri Rivers Flow into the Internet

Updated Sun at 7:00 AM

Accu Weather For St. Charles and Washington, Mo............

Added Accu Weather links for the Missouri River cities of St. Charles and Washington, Mo to the left hand column of RiverBills.com.......  After all this is where the Mississippi, Illinois ad Missouri Rivers flow into the internet !

Updated Sun at 6:00 AM

Crews Raise Boat That Sank In Alton Marina Fire............

In a news report from thetelegraph.com............ In an effort that spanned two days, a boat that sank after a fire at the Alton Marina was salvaged Saturday. After hacking through 8-10 inches of ice, Pat Riley, of Pat Riley Marine Services dove in after the wreck. Two hours later, she was floating atop the surface once more.

The damage to the dock and boats has been estimated at $345,000. Investigators are still trying to determine the cause of the fire. Boat owners, although dejected, heap praise on the Fire Department, and their quick response.............

Click here to read this report.

Updated Sun at 6:00 AM

Dubuque, Iowa
   500 Gallon Spill Into The Mississippi River..........

In a news report from thonline.com............ The Iowa Department Of Natural Resources states that 500 gallons of the wood byproduct, lignin, spilled from a 2.2 million gallon storage tank due to an open valve. Authorities believe vandalism is the cause of the spill.

The spill did make it to the river ice through a drain at the Dubuque River Terminals Property. The spill did not completely melt through the ice, and clean-up was underway.

The chemical spill does carry the potential to kill off aquatic life, but the threat is believed to be low for a body of water the size of the Mississippi River.

Click here to read this report.
 

Lignin Wood Polymer
Lignin is a compound derived from wood. It is one of the most abundant organic polymers in the world, second only to cellulose. Lignin is also crucial to the conduction of water in plants.

Commercial uses:

• Dispersants in high performance cement applications, water treatment formulations and textile dyes

• Additives in specialty oil field applications and agricultural chemicals

• Raw materials for several chemicals, such as vanillin, DMSO, ethanol, torula yeast, xylitol sugar and humic acid

• Environmentally sustainable dust suppression agent for roads

Source:  Wikipedia Encyclopedia  click here to read more

Missouri

   New State Record For Fresh Water Drum......

Jim Low of the Missouri Department of Conservation sent RiverBill's the following press release:
 

Missouri gets new state-record freshwater drum
The 26.5-pound fish was gigged at Lake of the Ozarks.
 

LAKE OZARK —Kenneth F. Hoener, of Hermann, set a state record for freshwater drum taken by “alternative methods” when he gigged a 26.5-pound freshwater drum at Lake of the Ozarks Nov. 7. The fish measured 38 inches long.

The Missouri Department of Conservation recognizes fishing records in two categories. Pole-and-line catches must be taken on hand-held equipment. Alternative methods include trotlines, throwlines, limblines, banklines, juglines, spearfishing, snagging, snaring, gigging and archery.

The previous “alternative methods” record was a 15-pound, 3-ounce drum caught on a trotline at Lake Wappapello in 1996. The current pole-and-line record for freshwater drum is a monstrous 40.5-pound fish caught by an Iowa man at Lake of the Ozarks in 1980.

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Click here to go to the Missouri Department of Conservation website
 

Activation of Electronic Fish Barrier on Illinois River Delayed..............

In a news report on Prairie State Outdoors.......... Activation of the electric barrier in the Chicago Sanitary and Ship Canal near Romeoville, Illinois has been delayed because of defects in the cooling system.  The delay could last until late March.

The electronic barrier is designed to prevent Asian carp in the Illinois River from moving through the Ship Canal into Lake Michigan and beyond.

The US Army Corps of Engineers had planned to turn on the barrier by January 31, 2008 at 1 Volt/inch.


Click here to read this news story

Ice Cover Mississippi River ..........

 

Click here for news report and video from the St. Louis Fox2Now on the Icy Mississippi River Conditions.  To some its a beautiful winter scene.... and to others it dangerous place to be working.

Illinois Fishing Report .......

 

Click here for the northern and central Illinois fishing report from the Prairie States Outdoors website.

Fountain Stock Suspended From Trading on New York Stock Exchange...

In a news report from the TradeOnlyToday.com......... The stock of Fountain Powerboat Industries’ will be suspended from trading on NYSE Alternext US.

The exchange noted that Fountain had “sustained losses that were so substantial in relation to its overall operations or its existing financial resources, or its financial condition had become so impaired."

After the delisting, the company's outstanding shares will be quoted under a new symbol in the Pink Sheets.  The new symbol is yet to be announced.

Fountain’s stock was listed at 33 cents per share on Friday morning.

Click here to read more.....

Fountain Powerboats website
http://www.fountainpowerboats.com/

Silverton Marine Corp Cutting Work Force...

In a news report from the TradeOnlyToday.com......... Silverton Marine Corp. is laying off  202 employees because of current economic conditions. The company had nearly 500 employees as of October 2008 with facilities in New Jersey, Florida and Maryland. The company has not shipped a boat to a dealer in two months.

Silverton, which celebrates its 40th anniversary this year.

Click here to read this news story
 

Silverton Marine Corp website

http://www.silverton.com/

Mississippi River-Gulf Outlet Channel Closed..............

In a news report on nola.com............ Efforts have begun to close the Mississippi River-Gulf Outlet shipping channel in St. Benard Parish. This closing will bring an end to 45 years of navigation on the 60 mile shortcut from New Orleans to the Gulf of Mexico.

Although the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers states that the channel had no impact on the post-Katrina flooding, the channel took the majority of criticism for the flooding of New Orleans, and St. Benard Parish.

Supporters of the project are in good spirits, stating that the coast finally can heal itself and that this will start to restore the natural hydrology, the natural plumbing.

Click here to read this report.

The Mississippi River-Gulf Outlet
The Mississippi River-Gulf Outlet, or Mr. Go was intended to be a shorter route from the Gulf of Mexico to the Port of New Orleans and provide port access to deep draft vessels that cannot navigate the Industrial Canal's locks.

Click here to learn more about Mr. Go on Wikipedia.
 

Eagle Watching Days

Are Here !

Click on pic to enlarge

Our River Pictures of the Day..... Are more eagle pics from Capt'n Pat Reid...... Know in some circles as "Captain of the Camera."

Bill,

Hope you had good time in Jamaica.

Here are pics I took the last two weekends up at Clarksville. The group shot there must have been at least 100 + hanging around. The one eating the deer was by me down near Moscow Mills.

Pat

Crystal Photography

 

Yesteryears

Picture of the Day

click on pic to enlarge

Yester Year's River Pictures of the Day in 2005----- was of the boat named Scoundrel  tied up at Sharkey's on a cold Winter day..... January 29 !   Boating season never ends for some folks. Dutch, who is the captain of the vessel, told me he keeps it toasty warm inside and that he uses the boat all year long. Hats off to you Dutch !    

Navigation Notices ......

To: ALL MARINERS
From: Coast Guard Upper Miss
Date: 1/29/09
Subject: Ice Advistory for the UMR / ILR
NAVNOTICE # 1551

A. ZONES 1-26 (MILES 200.5 - 857.6 UMR) HAVE ENTERED THE ACTION
PHASE FOR ICE CONDITIONS IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE UMR WAP ANNEX.
B. ZONES 27-28 (MILES 109.9 - 200.4 UMR) REMAIN IN THE WATCH
PHASE FOR ICE CONDITIONS IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE UMR WAP ANNEX.
C. ZONES 1-7 (MILES 0.0 - 180.9 ILR) REMAIN IN THE WATCH PHASE FOR
ICE CONDITIONS IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE ILR WAP ANNEX. HEAVY ICE IS
EXPECTED THROUGHOUT THE ILLINOIS WATERWAY. ALL MARINERS ARE
REQUESTED TO TRANSIT THESE ZONES WITH EXTREME CAUTION.
D. SHEET ICE MAY BE EXPECTED THROUGHOUT THE ILLINOIS WATERWAY.
CHANNELS MAY BE BLOCKED BY ICE IN SOME LOCATIONS IF CONDITIONS
DETERIORATE. ICE GORGES CAN MOST FREQUENTLY BE EXPECTED TO FORM AT THE FOLLOWING LOCATIONS: MILES 86.5 TO 95.5 (GRAPE ISLAND TO SUGAR CREEK) AND MILES 127.0 TO 137.0 (LIVERPOOL TO COPPERAS CREEK).
E. NAVIGATION HAS BEEN RESTRICTED TO ONE WAY TRAFFIC BETWEEN MILES 169.0 TO 179.0 TO ENSURE THE INTEGRITY OF THE EXISTING ICE TRAIL
ACROSS PEORIA LAKE.
F. MARINERS ARE REQUESTED TO ENSURE THAT FLEETS ARE CLOSELY
MONITORED AND MOORING LINES ARE ADEQUATELY SECURED, AND TO EXERCISE DUE CAUTION TO AVOID SINKING BARGES AND HIGH LOCALIZED FLOW OR OUT DRAFT CONDITIONS DUE TO WATER BYPASSING A TEMPORARY DAM THAT MAY BE CAUSED BY AN ICE GORGE.
G. MARINERS SHOULD BE AWARE THAT BUOYS MAY BE UNRELIABLE DUE TO ICING CONDITIONS. ICE RENDERS REFLECTIVE MATERIAL INEFFECTIVE, AND ICE FLOWS MAY DRAG BUOYS OFF STATION AND SEVER BUOYS FROM THEIR MOORINGS.

To: ALL MARINERS
From: Coast Guard Ohio Valley
Date: 1/29/09
Subject: UPPER MISSISSPPI RIVER FROM MM 67-82 UMR
NAVNOTICE # 1550

THE COTP OHIO VALLEY HAS REOPENED THE UPPER MISSISSPPI RIVER FROM MILES 67 TO 82. THE FOLLOWING RESTRICTIONS APPLY: NO MORE THAN 5 BARGES WIDE AND D/B VESSELS ARE LIMITED TO DAY LIGHT TRANSTITS ONLY. THE M/V CAROL P WILL BE ON SCENE IF ASSISTANCE IS NEEDED. VESSLES ARE REQUESTED TO TRANSIT THIS AREA WITH CAUTION

 

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With Deepest Sympathy........

 Billy Joe Yates, Father of Bert Yates, Has Passed Away

Bert Yates' father, Billy Joe Yates, passed away on Wednesday, January 28th, 2009.

Mr. Yates will be laid out at the Chapel Hill Mortuary, 6300 Highway 30, Cedar Hill, MO 63016 on Monday, February 2nd from 2 PM to 9 PM.

Funeral will be on Tuesday, February 3rd at 10 AM from Chapel Hill.

Bert and Renee Yates

Members of Con Trios Yacht Club

Boat out of Eagles Landing Marina.

Missouri State Water Patrol News Release.....

NEWS RELEASE
PUBLIC INFORMATION SECTION, P.O. Box 1368, Jefferson City, MO  65102

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Jefferson City

Water Patrol Officers Respond to Southeast Missouri Winter Storm Efforts

The Missouri State Water Patrol has sent 14 officers to aid in the response to the winter storm recovery effort in Southeast Missouri. The Water Patrol officers will work in conjunction with the Missouri State Highway Patrol to support security in areas affected by power outages due to the winter storm. Officers are also assisting with the distribution of bottled water to areas where the power outages have caused disruptions in drinking water systems.

News Release ID: N07090002
Release Date: 20090128

Click here to check out the Missouri State Water Patrol website

The Sinking Missouri River ...........

In a news report from hdnews.net.......... Engineers, and scientists do not know why, but the Missouri River bed is sinking. Although the river levels are not really changing at the shore level, it is what is going on below the surface that is giving engineers fits.

The real problems are to the infrastructure.  Bridge pylons are being exposed and undermined and there are issues with the fresh water pickups for water utility companies.

The largest period of stream bed drop was after the flood of 1993 and the bottom of the river has lost about 1 foot every year since.

Many causes are possible are being considered......everything from natural washing and floods to human intervention through dredging, levees and wing dykes.  An in depth study is in progress to get a more vivid picture as to what is going on.

Click here to read this report.

Brunswick Feels Economic Pinch............

In a news report from the chicagotribune.com........... With the failing economy, most corporations are seeing their profits dwindle into deficits. And being a major manufacturer of recreational items, including boats and boat propulsion systems, Brunswick felt the belt-tightening sooner than most.

Brunswick responded early to the slowing boating segment by cutting production, and the corresponding workforce.

In the last quarter of 2008, Brunswick reported a sales drop of 42%, and a net loss of $66.3 million. Brunswick states that 2008 was a challenging year, and it is expected that 2009 will be more difficult.........

Click here to read this report.

Click here to read the companies news release.
 

The Brunswick Company

Brunswick manufactures and markets marine engines, pleasure boats, fitness equipment, bowling products, and billiards.  A "few" of their marine products include..... Bayliner, Whaler, Harris, Lowe, Lund, Mariner, Mercury, Sea Ray, Tritan and Trophy.

www.brunswick.com

The Missouri River Runner.......

In a news report from infozine.com........... The Amtrack trains that run between the river cities of St. Louis and  Kansas City have been renamed  "Missouri River Runner."

Amtrak and the Missouri Department of Transportation held a contest to rename the St. Louis to Kansas City Corridor. The winner, "Missouri River Runner" was submitted by Keith Kohler of Glendale, Mo..

The new name brings to mind the Missouri River that parallels most of the railroad route, as well as the Mississippi and Kansas rivers at either end...............

Click here to read this report.

New York is Proposing A Salt Water Fishing License.........

In a news article on TradeOnlyToday.com.......... A coalition of boating and fishing groups, called Save Boating and Fishing Jobs in New York,  is fighting a proposal by the state's governor that would require saltwater anglers to purchase a $19 saltwater license. ($40 for out-of-state).

The state is also proposing a luxury tax on all boats over $200,000, increases in marina fees and an increase in state park fees.  The state is also proposing lifting the cap on state fuel taxes.

That's five new taxes or increased taxes aimed at boaters, fishermen and the state's recreational fishing industry.

Click here to read this news story.

California Huck Finn Jubilee .....

In a new story from associatedcontent.com........... Mohave Narrows Regional Park in Victorville, California will host Mark Twain, and his most notable character, Huck Finn, in the annual Huck Finn Jubilee.

Several Huck Finn-like activities are planned for the Jubilee. Starting with raft building, horseshoe pitching, a liar's contest and even fence painting.

The three day festival runs from 19 June - 21 June, 2009 (Fathers Day)

Click here to read this story.

Click here for more info. on the event.

Eagle Watching Days

Are Here !

  Click on pic to enlarge

Our River Pictures of the Day..... were sent in by Capt'n Pat Reid...... Know in some circles as "Captain of the Camera."

Bill,

Hope you had good time in Jamaica.

Here are pics I took the last two weekends up at Clarksville. The group shot there must have been at least 100 + hanging around. The one eating the deer was by me down near Moscow Mills. (tomorrow)

Pat

Crystal Photography

 

River Bill says....Wow Pat, you outdid yourself.  The last shot in today's edition of the eagle taking to flight out of the tree is absolutely outstanding !

More pictures from Pat of Crystal Photography tomorrow........

Yesteryears

Picture of the Day

click on pic to enlarge

Yester Year's River Pictures of the Day in 2007----- were sent in by Patrolman Lou Amighetti of the Missouri State Water Patrol with a reminder to boat operators about the mandatory boater safety education law. 

  The cold winter months are an excellent time to complete a certified boater education course.

Delta Queen To Be Chattanooga's Newest Hotel..........

From a news report on louisville.bizjournals.com............ Ambassadors International Inc, the California based owner of the Delta Queen, has announced they have chartered the vessel to Harry Phillips; who will operate her as a hotel. Phillips is the owner of the Chattanooga Water Taxi, and Fat Cat Ferry. He was chosen to be the Queen's caretaker because of his experience in preserving historical properties. There are provisions in the charter agreement to prevent alterations to the Queen.

Meanwhile, the Save The Delta Queen organization is still pushing for a congressional exemption allowing her back into service; as well as lobbying the National Trust For Historic Preservation for a spot on the '09 11 Most Endangered Historic Places In America.

Click here to read this report.

Eagle Report from Lock and Dam 13 .........

Our friend, Kathy Flippo of Tow Talkin fame reports that there are lots of eagles at Mississippi River Lock and Dam 13..... More than 200 of them right now !  

RiverBill says....Thanks Kathy.

 

Lock and Dam 13 is located on the Upper Mississippi River above Fulton, Illinois and Clinton, Iowa

Cape Girardeau, Mo

    Floodwall Renovations Begin With A Ceremony.........

In a news story from joplin.com.......... A $9 million project to upgrade the floodwall on the Mississippi River in Cape Girardeau will begin with a ceremony Friday. Improvements include the installation of large rocks along the river side of the current floodwall, and structural repairs and improvements at two pumping stations..........

Click here to read this story.

 

U.S. Army Corps Of Engineers Evaluates Damage To Current River Feeder Creek..........

In a news article on stltoday.com.......... Roadwork through the Pioneer Forest creates more friction between Shannon County, and the landowners. The property owner, St. Louis based L-A-D Foundation found logs, rocks, and dirt heaped close to the banks of the Big Creek. The Big Creek runs through the 60,000 acre Roger Pryor Pioneer Backcountry, and flows to the Current River.

As a result, the L-A-D Foundation and the Missouri Clean Water Campaign have filed complaints with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, and the Missouri Department of Natural Resources.

The presiding officer of the Shannon County Commissioners states that the county was just performing repairs on a public road, washed out above the Big Creek.........

Click here to read the article
 

Con Trios Yacht Club Update ..........

Updated the Con Trios Yacht Club website (www.contriosyachtclub.org) with the following:

Got an email from the St. Louis Boat and Sportshow coming up February 11th to the 15th offering online ticket sales where if you buy 3 tickets the 4th one is FREE! Here's a direct link to order them:
http://www.stlouisboatshow.com/tickets.aspx?source=inhousestl2009

February Birthdays: 9th - Past Commodore Gary Meinershagen

Get Well Soon:Con Trios Yacht Club Director Bill Tullock recently underwent rotator cuff surgery. Let's all wish him a speedy recovery! He's going to need both hands by the next party.

Report on the January Get Together and pictures from the day, Thanks again to Lisa for taking the pictures.

Next Social Event: Saturday, February 28th at Big Muddy.

Darryll Weil, Fleet Captain and webmaster
 

Iowa
   Senate Votes To Stiffen Drunken Boating Laws..........

In a news report from argusleader.com......... The Iowa Senate voted 49-1 to make the state's drunken boating law tougher. This would bring the drunken boating law to the same standard as that of drunk driving. The current automatic conviction blood-alcohol level is .10. The new law would drop this to .08.

After the Senate vote, the matter will go to the House. A similar bill was unanimously run through the Senate in 2007, but was not even discussed in the House............

Click here to read this report.

 

U.S. Coast Guard photograph

USCGC Blackthorn Memorial

HOUSTON - In this photo by the U.S. Coast Guard, members of SFO Galveston hold a service to memorialize the crew of the USCGC Blackthorn on the 29th anniversary of its sinking, Wednesday, Jan. 28, 2009.

The memorial service was held on the deck of the USCGC Harry Claiborne, homeported in Galveston. Names of the crew were read, and a wreath was placed into the sea in remembrance of those who lost their life.

The Blackthorn, which was once homeported in Galveston, was in a shipyard in Tampa, Florida, for routine repairs. The cutter got underway Jan. 28, 1980, at 7:21 p.m. headed for Galveston and collided with the motor tanker Capricorn near the Sunshine State Parkway Bridge. The collision resulted in the loss of 23 lives. This was the largest peacetime loss of life in the Coast Guard's history.

(U.S. Coast Guard photo/Petty Officer Renee C. Aiello)

 

Dead Zones and Sewage

   Conventional Wisdom Toward Coastal "Dead Zones" Refuted .........

In a news article from abcnews.go.com............. Apparently, the Nile River delta was a hearty fishery prior to the completion of the Aswan High Dam. However, the delicate balance changed with the halt of nutrients at the dam, killing off the marine life. Yet with the release of human wastes and agricultural fertilizers below the dam, the fisheries have been rejuvenated to the tune of three times the fish catch today in comparison to before the dam was constructed.

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, in conjunction with researchers from the University of Rhode Island, and the University of Alexandria in Egypt gathered 600 fish caught near the Nile delta in 2006 & 2007. They found that the fish contained high concentrations of nitrogen and phosphorous, that came from the fertilizer, and wastes that entered the river below the dam.

These findings just show how little we know about man's impact on the environment.............

Click here to read this report.
 

Dead zones

Dead zones occur when excess nutrients, mainly phosphorous and nitrogen, get into the water, creating algae blooms. Upon death, the algae is consumed by bacteria, who then decompose, and dissolve oxygen. The oxygen-depleted water is usually deadly to marine life.

Click here to read more about dead zones on Wikipedia.

Picture of the Day

  Click on pic to enlarge

Our River Pictures of the Day..... were sent in by Capt'n Larry Snopek.

Bill:

You don't have to go very far to view eagles. There are a some along Riverview Drive, and more along the Great River Road. But if anyone wants to see the mother lode of eagles, then go to Clarksville. Pulled into a parking spot at Riverfront Park, just in time to view a 3-eagle fly over. There appeared to be well over 100-eagles there last Saturday, with most of them sitting in the trees across the river. I say there were about 25-eagles flying over the river at any one time.

With so many eagles over water, if I were to do it again, I would take a video camera, some wine and other goodies. Set up the video cam to record, sit back and enjoy the show, and the day. When you are finished viewing the eagles, make the 10-mile trip up river to Riverview Park in Louisiana, to get an eagle's eye view of the river. Followed by a stop at the Two Rivers Marina.


Larry Snopek
 

Yesteryears

Picture of the Day

click on pic to enlarge

Yester Year's River Pictures of the Day in 2008..........  were sent in by Jeff and Shirri Easley


Hi RiverBill,

I had to get my river fix today and took a trip to Hardin to have lunch at Mel's. Along with the wife and kids I took my faithful boating companion Emily. One picture was taken at Mel's, the other at Grafton. She's a 3 year old retriever/lab/chow mix, smartest dog I have ever had. I enclosed a couple of river pics of her. I'll spare you the Eagle pics I got today, although they were quite plentiful at Grafton today.

Have a great day!
Jeff & Sherri Easley

Navigation Notices ......

To: ALL MARINERS
From: Coast Guard Upper Miss
Date: 1/28/09
Subject: LOCK RESTRICTIONS
NAVNOTICE # 1549

SUBJ: WESTERN RIVERS BNM NR 0019-09 UM
SAFETY AND SCHEDULED BROADCASTS UNTIL CANCELLED
CANCEL WESTERN RIVERS BNM NR 0014-09 UM
USCG NOTICE TO MARINERS EIGHTH DISTRICT NR 0019-09 UM
UPPER MISSISSIPPI AND ILLINOIS RIVER
A. THE USACE HAS ISSUED THE FOLLOWING NOTICES FOR VESSELS
TRANSITING ON THE ILLINOIS WATERWAY SYSTEM.
B. VESSELS TRANSITING THE MARSEILLES AND STARVED ROCK LOCKS ARE
RESTRICTED TO 105 FOOT WIDTH. DOWNBOUND TOWS ARE RESTRICTED TO 400 FEET. DOUBLES WILL BE REQUIRED TO TRIP OR USE A HELPER BOAT TO ASSIST WITH THE FIRST CUT.
C. UPBOUND DOUBLES TRANSITING THE DRESDEN ISLAND LOCK WILL BE
REQUIRED TO TRIP OR USE A HELPER BOAT TO ASSIST WITH THE FIRST CUT.
D. PEORIA LOCK HAS GONE UP WITH THE FOLLOWING RESTRICTIONS. TOWS
ARE REQUIRED TO HAVE A WIDTH OF 105 FEET. DOUBLE TOWS WILL BE
REQUIRED TO TRIP OR USE A HELPER BOAT TO ASSIST WITH THE FIRST CUT.
E. ALL OTHER LOCKS ARE CURRENTLY UNDER NORMAL OPERATIONS. LAGRANGE LOCK AND DAM IS DOWN AND IS ANTICIPATED TO REMAIN DOWN FOR ANOTHER WEEK TO 10 DAYS.
E. ICE COUPLINGS ARE REQUIRED IN ALL LOCKS.
F. LOCK 24 ON THE UPPER MISSISSIPPI RIVER HAS REPORTED MAKING HARD CUTS.

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

To: ALL MARINERS
From: Coast Guard Upper Miss
Date: 1/27/09
Subject: Safety Advisory for ILR and UMR
NAVNOTICE # 1548

USCG SECTOR UPPER MISSISSIPPI RIVER ISSUES THE FOLLOWING SAFETY
ADVISORY:
A. ZONES 1-28 (MILES 109.9 - 857.6 UMR) REMAIN IN THE WATCH
PHASE FOR ICE CONDITIONS IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE UMR WAP ANNEX.
B. ZONES 1-7 (MILES 0.0 - 180.9 ILR) REMAIN IN THE WATCH PHASE FOR
ICE CONDITIONS IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE ILR WAP ANNEX. HEAVY ICE IS
EXPECTED THROUGHOUT THE ILLINOIS WATERWAY. ALL MARINERS ARE
REQUESTED TO TRANSIT THESE ZONES WITH EXTREME CAUTION.
C. SHEET ICE MAY BE EXPECTED THROUGHOUT THE ILLINOIS WATERWAY.
CHANNELS MAY BE BLOCKED BY ICE IN SOME LOCATIONS IF CONDITIONS
DETERIORATE. ICE GORGES CAN MOST FREQUENTLY BE EXPECTED TO FORM AT THE FOLLOWING LOCATIONS: MILES 86.5 TO 95.5 (GRAPE ISLAND TO SUGAR CREEK) AND MILES 127.0 TO 137.0 (LIVERPOOL TO COPPERAS CREEK).
D. NAVIGATION HAS BEEN RESTRICTED TO ONE WAY TRAFFIC BETWEEN MILES 169.0 TO 179.0 TO ENSURE THE INTEGRITY OF THE EXISTING ICE TRAIL
ACROSS PEORIA LAKE.
E. MARINERS ARE REQUESTED TO ENSURE THAT FLEETS ARE CLOSELY
MONITORED AND MOORING LINES ARE ADEQUATELY SECURED, AND TO EXERCISE DUE CAUTION TO AVOID SINKING BARGES AND HIGH LOCALIZED FLOW OR OUT DRAFT CONDITIONS DUE TO WATER BYPASSING A TEMPORARY DAM THAT MAY BE CAUSED BY AN ICE GORGE.
F. MARINERS SHOULD BE AWARE THAT BUOYS MAY BE UNRELIABLE DUE TO ICING CONDITIONS. ICE RENDERS REFLECTIVE MATERIAL INEFFECTIVE, AND ICE FLOWS MAY DRAG BUOYS OFF STATION AND SEVER BUOYS FROM THEIR MOORINGS.

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$1,000 Reward Offered For Info on Eagle Killings...........

 

According to a new report in TheTelegraph.com...... "Federal authorities are offering a $1,000 reward for information related to the mutilation and death of two bald eagles in the St. Louis area."

On January 10..... the mutilated and decapitated carcass of an adult bald eagle was found near West Alton, in St. Charles County.  The tail feathers and feet had been removed.

On January 17..... another bald eagle was found dead in Calhoun County, Illinois, near Hardin.  It was probably shot from the road.

Please contact the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service in Springfield, Illinois if you have any information on the above.


Click here to read this news article.

Offshore Fish Farms My By In The Future Of The Gulf Of Mexico...........

 

In a news report from the advertiser.com................ The Gulf of Mexico Fishery Management Council is anticipated to vote to allow offshore fish farming in federal waters. To this point, the fish farming has been on an experimental level, close to shore. The proposal the Gulf Council in considering would open up waters far offshore.

The resistance from environmentalists, and fishermen is that growing fish in large pens located in open waters brings up pollution concerns, and potential harm to wild stocks.

Interest has been aroused in retrofitting unused oil and natural gas platforms to fish farms. Apparently, some oil companies have gotten in on the act, experimenting with anchoring the fish pens to the platforms..

Click here to read this report.

 Lewis Boats Marine Sales & Service

REGAL, BOSTON WHALER & SKEETER BASS BOATS

Masters of the Sky Returns..........

According to a news report on TheTelegraph.com.......the "Masters of the Sky" bird shows are returning to the National Great Rivers Museum.

Masters of the Sky shows will be presented at 11AM, and 1 and 3PM on Saturday, Sunday and Monday......February 14, 15 and 16.

Tickets are on sale at the National Great Rivers Museum. 

   $5 per adult.

   $3 per child.

    Children 3 and younger are admitted free.

The educational shows include live bald eagles, owls, raptors, falcons, vultures and smaller hawks.

Click here for more information
 

UK Pirate Couldn't Get Out Of Harbor..........

In a news report from across the pond, on walseonline.co.uk............ In Porthcawl, Wales, a 17 year old made an attempt to steal a 17 ft fishing boat, but did not know how to pilot it.

Witnesses report seeing the crook board the boat wearing a red fisherman's suit, stow his fishing gear in the cabin, throw off the mooring lines, and attempt to start the boat. Once the boat started, it hit the harbor wall many times. The teenager fled after realizing that he would not get away with the theft, and was quickly caught.

Authorities state it was quite fortunate that the youth did not get out of the harbor, as sea conditions were rather dangerous.

Click here to read this report.


Click here to read about Porthcawl located in the southeast region of Wales, UK.
 

Louisiana
   St. Charles Parish Considers Memorial For 1976 Ferry Crash Victims......

In a news story on nola.com......... The St Charles Parish Council committee is hearing a presentation for a memorial for the 77 victims of the October 20, 1976 Luling ferry accident. The presentation will be given by the New Orleans filmmaker, Royd Anderson. Anderson had produced a documentary commemorating the 30th anniversary of the accident.

The accident between the Norwegian tanker, Frosta, and the ferry, George Prince killed 77 of 96 ferry passengers. There were no injuries aboard the tanker. A Coast Guard inquiry found the ferry pilot at fault, stating the ferry turned into the tankers path...........

Click here to read this story.
 

The Nordic Tug 26 is Back.......

The Nordic Tug 26 is back !   It debuted in 1980 and was last produced in 1997.

Nostalgic appeal, rugged construction and notable fuel economy

Today's Nordic Tug 26 is equipped with a 110 hp Volvo D-3 diesel engine with electronic controlled high pressure common rail fuel system.  One gph at 6.0 knots. Top speed 15 knots.

Sleeps 4.... forward stateroom with a wet head plus a convertible salon settee.
 

Click here for picture and more information.

Marine Max to Release 1st Quarter Results Next Week.........

According to a news article on TradeOnlyToday.com............ MarineMax will release it's first quarter financial results on Tuesday, Feb. 3.

Marine Max is based in Clearwater, Florida and is the nation's largest recreational boat and yacht retailer.

Click here to read more....

File photo

Saturday, 31 January  2009

   Louisiana, Mo - Polar Plunge  

What is a POLAR PLUNGE?  An event sponsored by the Louisiana Police Department as a fundraiser for the Special Olympics.  

A few common nouns/adjectives used to describe the participants:  Idiots, crazy people, they’re out of their minds!!  The POLAR PLUNGE consists of individuals jumping, diving, or running into the Mississippi River .  The Plungers collect donations for the Special Olympics.  This is only one of the many activities scheduled for Saturday, January 31, 2009.  

  Click here for flyer and more information

Lake Pepin, Minnesota

   Vehicles and Thin Ice.................

In a news article from the republican-eagle.com........... For the second time in as many weeks, ice fishermen witnessed a vehicle break through the ice, and sink to the bottom of Lake Pepin. All 4 occupants.........and the dog.......escaped. The previous weekend, another truck broke through the ice in the same vicinity.

The locals know the current in the accident zone runs into a sandbar, creating a pressure ridge that is unaffected by the temperature. Also a factor in the unstable ice is heated water from the Prairie Island nuclear power plant nearby. Locals suggest asking for assistance prior to heading out on the ice................

Click here to read this article.

 

Lake Pepin in the widest naturally occurring Section of the Mississippi River. The lake was formed due to the deposits of sediment at the Chippewa river confluence. Water skiing was also invented on Lake Pepin...............

Click here to read more about Lake Pepin in the Wikipedia Encyclopedia.

Picture of the Day

  Click on pic to enlarge

Our River Picture of the Day..... was sent in by Brian Lewis of Lewis Boats fame.
 

RiverBill,

Lewis Boats sponsored a "IceBreaker" party for our Regal owners @ Undertow Restaurant Saturday night January 24th. We had over fifty people show and everyone had a good time.
Everyone is very anxious to get back on the river--

Thanks,
Brian Lewis
Lewis Boats
636.949.9926
 

The Undertow Restaurant is located on Main Street in St. Charles, Mo.

Yesteryears

Picture of the Day

click on pic to enlarge

Yester Year's River Pictures of the Day in 2006..........  was sent in by the late Capt'n Ron Skeen.  It is of some of the Two Branch Marina boaters ringing in the new year with their annual New Years Day bon fire and cook-out at the harbor. 

Public Notices Open For Comment

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

1. P-2696:The applicant CSX Transportation requests authorization under Section 404 of the Clean Water Act to rehabilitate Shoal Creek which is currently threatening the integrity of the existing railroad bridge, Bond County, Illinois.

2. P-2694:The applicant The applicant proposes to construct a new four-lane traffic bridge over the Mississippi River in downtown St. Louis, connecting the city of St. Louis in St. Louis County, Missouri, to St. Clair County, Illinois. The public notice comment period opens on January 27, 2009 and closes on February 17,

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

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.

Click here to go to the US Army Corps of Engineers website

Follow Up

   Alton Marina Fire.........

 

According to a news story in the AltonDailyNews.com....... The boats damaged in last Friday's fire at the Alton Marina will be removed from the marina in the next few weeks. A crane will be brought in to assist in the recovery efforts.

The current weather forecast is a cause of concern for the roof structure that was damaged in the fire.

The State Fire Marshall's Office is close to wrapping up its investigation on the cause of the fire.

Click here to read this news story
 

Reduce Your Boat's Engine Noise.........

 

Today's edition of the Mad Mariner has an article on reducing your boat's engine noise.  Lots of new products have been introduced in recent years combat engine noise.......... high-tech insulation, add-ons for engine and exhaust systems, reducing paint and more.

Click here to read this news article

 

Jim Sina, Great Lakes Boating Pioneer Dies.........

Today's edition of TradeOnlyToday reports that Jim Sima died last week at the age of 82.

Jim founded Sima Motors Corp. in 1953 and later expanded into boat sales under the Sima Marine Sales banner in 1956.

He was in the boat industry for more than 50 years. Mr. Sima was a leader of the Lake Erie Marine Trades Association, chairman of the committee that initiated the North American In-Water Sail and Power Boat Show on the Great Lakes, founder of the Marine Trades Association of Ohio and a founding member of the board of directors of the Marine Retailers Association of America.  He also served as MRAA chairman from 1977-79.

Click here to read this news story

River Reading
   New Book On Union "Timberclads" ........

In a news story from the greenvillesun.com............. Myron J Smith, Tusculum College's librarian, as well as an author, has written his 78th volume of history. This time his subject is the early "timberclad" riverboats of the Civil War. Specifically, the three on the western front of the war, The Lexington, Conestoga and Tyler.

The timberclads were basically converted riverboats, with twin camouflaged paddlewheel houses and pilothouses. Their tall smokestacks were quite distinctive, and some of the Confederate youngsters referred to them as "chimleys".

These timberclads were build by the U.S. Army, and controlled by the U.S. Navy. The early boats did fight alongside some of the later, heavier built and better armed ironclads, and had some successes. The Confederates had a Navy during the early years as well, but it was much less effective............

Click here to read this story

 

2009 Quincy Visitor's Guide

   2009 Illinois Travel Guide

Contact the Quincy Area Convention & Visitors Bureau to get your copy today!
 

QACVB

532 Gardner Expressway

Quincy, IL 62301

217.214.3700

800.978.4748

8:30am-4:30pm

www.seequincy.com
 

U.S. Coast Guard photograph

Whistlin Dixie

Atlantic Ocean - The 44-foot fishing vessel Whistlin' Dixie is partially submerged in the Atlantic Ocean about seven miles east of Biddeford Pool, Maine, Monday, Jan. 26, 2009. The Coast Guard and Maine Marine Patrol rescued two fishermen who were on the boat when it began taking on water and sinking. The men believe the boat struck a submerged object, so they radioed for help and then climbed into the vessel's life raft. A Maine Marine Patrol boat picked them up 14 minutes later.

 (USCG Photo)

 

Joliet, Ill.
    River Barge Traffic Jams To Blame For Salt Shortages.............

In a news article from suburbanchicagonews.com/heraldnews............ Towns around Chicago are running out of salt. At the beginning of the year, cities will contract for their supply of salt. That contract brings a set price. Unfortunately, if the supplier cannot deliver, outside suppliers must be tapped, and at a price premium. What was contracted at $58/ton, can go for upwards of $150/ton.

The supplier of Chicagoland's salt is Cargill. Cargill states the Illinois River's frozen sections are to blame for the delay in shipping.............

Click here to read this news article.

US Coast guard Goes Digital on Sunday......   

In a news report on oysterradio.com............. Starting Sunday, the Coast Guard and other rescue personnel will only be able to receive distress signals from digital 406 Mhz Emergency Position Indicating Radio Beacons (EPIRBs). Boat owners are advised to install the new digital EPIRBs.

The Coast Guard states the the change will make future search and recovery missions more successful. The new technology allows for smaller search zones. The analog signals would give a search area of 500 square miles, whereas the digital signal shrinks this down to an area about the size of a football field..............

Click here to read this report.

Tennessee

    Illegally Harvested Caviar.......

In a news report from infozine.com.......... During the 2007 fishing season in Tennessee, it is estimated that hundreds of mature pallid sturgeon were illegally harvested for their eggs. Researchers believe that the government's efforts to prevent the pallid sturgeon from going extinct is being undermined by illegal fishing.

The pallid sturgeon is a larger, more primitive relative to the smaller, and much more abundant shovelnose sturgeon. The shovelnose is legally harvested for its caviar, which goes for $100.00/lb before processing, and between $12-21/oz after processing.

The pallid and shovelnose sturgeon look quite similar, and inhabit some of the same habitats. As a result, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is considering a halt to all sturgeon fishing in Tennessee waters of the Mississippi River............

Click here to read this report.

Picture of the Day

Frozen River

  Click on pic to enlarge

Our River Pictures of the Day..... were sent in by Lisa Hickey who hails out of the Yacht Club of St. Louis in the boat........... "Ching."

Hi Bill

We went out to the river yesterday to check on the boats and I took a few pictures.

What an awesome site to see.

Lisa
 

Yesteryears

Picture of the Day

click on pic to enlarge

Yester Year's River Pictures of the Day in 2005..........  was of a lone white pelican floating past the Alton River Front.

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Alton Marina Fire Video  ............
 

Click here for a good video clip from TheTelegraph.com.  Watch the boats burning, the fire fighters trying to put the fire out. It's good footage....

Click here for a news story and videos from Fox2now

Click here for pictures on the "My Alton Marina" website
 

Mississippi Queen, Hollywood........... and Cape Girardeau????

In a news story from semissourian.com.......... Marty!  Get in the DeLorean!  Set the Flux Capacitor for Saturday, August 18, 1979 !  ...............

Stage actress, Helen Hayes and her adopted son, James MacArthur, were passengers on the Mississippi Queen when she docked in Cape Girardeau. On that Saturday, they were patrons at a downtown Cape store by the name of Hecht's.

Miss Hayes was known as the "First Lady of the American Theater........ And her adopted son, James MacArthur portrayed detective Danny Williams on Hawaii 5-0. MacArthur was best remembered for the tag-line.."book 'em, Danno!"

This nostalgic news story takes a peek at history, perhaps never to be repeated.......

Click here to read this story, for links to the original '79 article, and an audio clip from the author....................

 

Environment

   Indiana is Large Contributor to Mississippi Watershed Pollution.........

In a news report on Zionsville Times Sentinel.......... The state of Indiana is the third largest contributor to nitrate and phosphorous pollutents in the Mississippi River watershed.  It's also the smallest of the 31 states within the watershed.

This stats comes from the USGS, which monitors the hypoxic area (dead zone) of the Mississippi Basin.

Click here to read this news story.

 

Missouri River, South Dakota

   Stolen Indian Artifacts Bring Indictments.........

In a news report on ksfy.com.......... Five men have received federal indictments for looting or selling Native American artifacts found along the Missouri River in South Dakota.

A wide range of artifacts have been traded, including bone tools, and fish hooks, stone knives, and copper bracelets.

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers explains the abundance of artifacts found is due to the fact that the region is a large drainage system, and was populated for the last 12000 years. The artifacts are being unearthed due to erosion of the riverbanks.

Click here to read this report.

 

Ice Fishing........

Click here to read a news item on Prairie State Outdoors website titled:  "Ice fishing like the good old days" by Jeff Lampe.

 

Table Rock Lake........

Last year's heavy rains caused historic flooding at Table Rock Lake in southwest Missouri.   Repairs are close to being complete and in some cases, the campgrounds and parks are better than before the flooding.

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers' parks....... Mill Creek, Old Highway 86, Moonshine Beach and others were closed last year because of the flood damages.

The campgrounds now have better water and electric services along with new restrooms and shower houses.  The beaches were restored, new playgrounds and newly seeded grassy areas were added.

Click here to read more......

 

Defender Industries

    Record Sales.......

According to a news article on the TradeOnlyToday.com website..... Defender Industries, a marine equipment and accessories supplier,  reported an 11.3 percent increase in sales for 2008.

In fact, they set all-time sales records for 11 months of 2008. Last year was also the company's fifth consecutive year of record sales and the seventh consecutive year of growth.

Sales were up in 19 of its 20 product categories. The company is  staffing up and investing in systems and inventory.

Click here to read more......

Click here to go to Defender Industries website and check out their products
 

Pekin, Illinois, Illinois River

   Eagle Census Festival.............

According to a news story on pjstar.com.... the river town of Pekin, Illinois , located on the Illinois River held their annual Eagle Census Festival this past weekend.  More that 100 people showed up to take part and watch these magnificent birds in their natural habitat.....

Pekin, IL is located about 130 miles north of St. Louis

Click here to read this news story

Pekin History

In January 1680, Robert de LaSalle and 33 fellow explorers landed their canoes on the eastern bank of the Illinois River. They built a winter refuge in what is now the southeast quarter of section 1 of Pekin Township.

Source: Wikipedia Encyclepedia

Illinois Man Rescued from Indian Ocean, 2 Others Still Missing ......

According to a news article on the TheHawkeye.com  website..... The U.S. Coast Guard officials are looking for a 69 year old Gilman, Illinois man and a marine naturalist of Crystal River, Fla. in the Indian Ocean after their 43-foot catamaran capsized in a storm off Madagascar.

Leo Sherman of Gilman, IL.was found on Thursday clinging to the hull of the capsized vessel.

French naval divers have given up their search for the missing persons after making numerous dives into the vessel to try to locate anybody inside.
 

Click here to read this news story

Last Update... Sun at 11:00AM...Added Missouri Water Patrol Classes to Upcoming Events......Sun at 10:20AM...Updated river level maps

Sat updates.... Updated Pic of Day, Added Palisade's Drink Coupon, The band Park Road is playing at the Oasis Bar & Grill tonight.   Added links to US Army Corps of Engineers Districts in L/H column

Picture of the Day

Sunday

  Click on pic to enlarge

Our River Pictures of the Day..... were sent in by Capt'n Ronald South

Bill...

I took these pics 1/20/09 from my marina, Northshore Oasis.

You can see the Oasis Bar & Grill in one of them. As you can see there is quite a lot of ice there but with the warmer weather this week maybe we've seen the last of it. Hope you can use the pics...my boat is a 30 ft. Rinker named Second Chance.

Thanks for the great web site.

Ronald South

North Shore
 

Yesteryears

Picture of the Day

Sunday

Yester Year's River Pictures of the Day in 2005.......... is a great panoramic river shot taken yesterday from the overlook at the Church at Principia College by Robert Cope of the boat "Slow Ride". The larger hot linked version is quite detailed so make sure you click here and check it out.  I think this picture was taken between the UMR 213 and  214 mile marker.  Looks like Portage Island directly across the river and I think that is Hideaway Harbor Park on the other side of the island.

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

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Yesteryears

Picture of the Day

Saturday

click on pic to enlarge

Yester Year's River Pictures of the Day in 2005..........  was of gulls flying around on the down-river side of Alton Dam. Must have been lot of food for them there. This picture does not really represent all of the birds that were in the area. It seemed like thousands and thousands of them flying around, all diving into the cold water for food. When one gull got something the rest chased him trying to get it away. Quite the site !

. 

Fire at Alton Marina Yesterday ............

A fire broke out on the docks at Alton Marina yesterday morning about 11AM.   Firefighters had it under control within about 30 minutes.

Two boats were destroyed and a third was damaged.  It is unclear how the fir broke out, but once burning it was fueled by the by gasoline tanks on the boats and upholstery and the fiberglass in the boats themselves. There was no explosion except for that of a propane tank.

The docks suffered fire damage also. The fire caused damage to the superstructure framing, the dock canopy,  I-beams and vertical uprights.  there are holes in the sheet metal roof and damage to the plastic floats under the dock walkways.
 

There were no injuries. 

Click here for pictures, video and to read more on STLtoday.com.

Click here for pictures and to read more in TheTelegraph.com
 

Better Business Bureau Warning

   Boat Angels Charity ............

According to a news report in the AltonDailyNews.com....... The Boat Angel Outreach Center located in Mesa, Arizona has billboards around the St. Louis area urging folks to donate their boats to charity.

The Better Business Bureau warns that this works just like donating your car to charity except this organization might be funneling more of the funds to the board of directors than to "charities."

Something smells a bit fishy...

Click here to read this news story

Click here to go to the Boat Angle website

Oasis Bar and Grill.......

Keokuk, Iowa's South Side Boat Club Will Return As Part Of Riverfront Rejuvenation.............

In a news report from connecttristates.com.......... After being destroyed by last summer's flooding, the South Side Boat Club is set to rise again. The major obstacle is funding. The cost of raising the club above flood stage and making repairs.... the price tag will tip the scale at almost half a million dollars. The club has approximately $100,000 from flood insurance.

South Side has approached the Keokuk City Council for financial assistance. The mayor of the city stated that no funds can be allocated for the club until the "master plan" for the Keokuk riverfront is ready.   That will be around the end of March. Mayor Gudgel also says the club is "an asset the city can't loose".

In the mean time, the South Side Boat Club is holding fundraisers to drum up more revenue.

Click here to read this report.
 

Friends of the Mississippi River

  January Website Update........

The Friends of the Mississippi River website has been updated for January.  Below are a few of this month's river related articles:

~ Habitat protected at confluence of Vermillion, Mississippi Rivers
~ Legislators take stand to save Rock Island Swing Bridge
~ Hastings Hydrokinetics project raises more questions than answers
~ Barge traffic declines on Upper Mississippi

 

Click here and check it out

Anoka, Minnesota

   City Seeks Riverboat For Cruising Mississippi and Rum Rivers........

In a news report from abcnewspapers.com........... The Anoka City Council and Skipper Liner Industries are in negotiations in regards to bringing a riverboat to town. The riverboat in question is the 149 passenger La Crosse Queen. She would make berth in downtown Anoka, and run tours of the Mighty Mississippi, and the Rum Rivers.

Final approval of the deal has been postponed, until February 2, 2009. The postponement is so the final details can be worked out, such as dock, utility upgrades needed, and the water levels of the Rum River. Anoka Mayor Phil Rice is optimistic about having the boat touring by springtime.

Click here to read this news story
 

The Rum River:

According to the Wikipedia Encyclopedia:

The current English name is a mistranslation of the name given to the river by the Mdewakanton Dakota Indians. The name ...Wakpa waḳaŋ.... meant Spiritual or Mystic River, but the late 18th-century Europeans interpreted the name for the river not as "Spirit" denoting a mystical force, but instead as "spirit" denoting alcohol.

It has been known as the Rum River ever since !

Another interesting tidbit.......Bogus Brook flows into the Rum River.  Guess what ?

It was a refuge for moonshiners during the Prohibition.
 

Click here to read more about the Rum River in the Wikipedia Encyclepedia.

U.S. Coast Guard photograph

Neah Bay Operation Coal Shovel

The Coast Guard Cutter Neah Bay clears a path for a Canadian bulk carrier as night falls along Lake Erie heading east to Nanticoke, Ontario for Operation Coal Shovel, Wednesday, Jan. 21, 2009.

(U.S. Coast Guard/Photo by Petty Officer Bill Colclough)

Picture of the Day

Breaking Ice !

  Click on pic to enlarge

Our River Pictures of the Day..... were sent in by Capt'n Larry Snopek

Bill:

This winter must be pretty rough for the barge companies. Icing on the river, has brought barge travel to a crawl These pictures were taken from my deck on 1/19/09, as a tow was trying to make its way down river. One technique used to break through the ice was to back up the tow about 300 feet, then full steam ahead, trying to break through the ice pack.

It took this tow about 45-60-minutes of pushing, backing, and ramming the ice, to go about 2/3-mile.

Later that day, I traveled up the River Road, and observed there was more open water upriver. But there were about 15 barges strung out from Alton to the Brussels Ferry, waiting to make their way down river too.


Larry Snopek

Yesteryears

Picture of the Day

click on pic to enlarge

Yester Year's River Pictures of the Day in 2006.......... was sent in by Mark Newlin. 

    Its a picture of a tow pushing 16 barges up-river past the beach at Royal Landing in Calhoun County, Illinois. 

   The channel is really close to the sand in this area......  So close that it looks like a person could almost reach out and touch the tow as it passes

. 

Work To Commence On Louisiana, Mo. Riverfront This Spring..........

In a news report from the louisianapressjournal.com......... The Louisiana Riverfront Development Committee has announced improvements to the riverfront will begin, paving the way for things to come when the grants come through. The city can start with grading and seeding the future park. This "In Kind" work can go toward the 20% match the development committee must raise.

The new park will be located south of the Missouri Conservation parking lot. Other topics in discussion are the park landscaping, shelter/bench/picnic table donations, and even possibly installation of public docks.............

Click here to read this report.

U.S. Coast Guard photograph

NEAH BAY BREAKS ICE
 

In this photo released by the U.S. Coast Guard, the cutter Neah Bay breaks Great lakes ice approximately 50 miles east of Grosse Isle, Mich., on Jan. 21. Neah Bay, homeported in Cleveland, is participating in the Ninth Coast Guard District's Operation Coal Shovel. Under tactical command of U.S. Coast Guard Sector Detroit personnel, Operation Coal Shovel covers ice breaking operations in all of lake Erie, the Detroit River, Lake St. Clair, the St. Clair River and a majority of lake Hron.

(U.S. Coast Guard photo/Air Station Detroit).
 

National Great Rivers Museum

   Recreation Activities.....

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

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.

Fishing Reports ....... 

Click here to read the Prairie States Outdoors January 22nd report on Northern Illinois ice fishing.

Boat Reviews ....... 

Click here to check out the Mad Mariner Powerboat reviews....... Triumph 1700 Skiff. Egg harbor 37 Convertible, Cruisers 3570 / 3575, Tiara 3900 Open.

Click here to check out the Mad Mariner Sailboat reviews......Pearson 30, Com-Pac 23, Irwin 37, Catalina 30

Riverboat Cruise Shut-Down Not Good For Cape Girardeau.............

In a news article on stltoday.com............. Escalating costs, fewer tourists, and unstable economic times has caused The Majestic America Line, and RiverBarge Excursions to forgo cruising the central U.S. this year. This shutdown, means the Cape won't see as many tourists to eat and shop in the local businesses.

Cape Girardeau is looking to nearby towns to help pick up the economic slack. The Convention and Visitor's Bureau is tightening up it's advertising radius, since people will still travel, just not as far............

Click here to read this news article.

Fishing News
   "Blanket Amnesty" For Walleye In Montana?

In a news story on twincities.com....... The Montana state Senate has a unique bill to consider. Lobbyists seek legislators to declare Walleye a native to Montana. Walleyes Unlimited of Montana states they believe the fish has been present all along. Trout Unlimited, a national conservation group, is the major opponent to this bill. A Trout Unlimited spokesman states disbelief that Walleyes Unlimited of Montana can rearrange natural history.

The Division of Fish and Wildlife in Minnesota states that the Walleye is native to the Mississippi River, and the Missouri River drainages. Walleye were not recorded as being "discovered" in the Montana area by Lewis and Clark on their 1804-06 expedition............

Click here to read this story.

Picture of the Day

Ice Aint Nice !

  Click on pic to enlarge

Our River Picture of the Day..... was sent to us by Gary and Sandy Mincher, who hail out of Woodland Marina in the boat Sandy M

Woodland Marina

Yesteryears

Picture of the Day

Yester Year's River Pictures of the Day in 2008.......   were from the RiverCam at Winfield Lock and Dam. 

An Icy Day On The Mississippi River in 2008

 Click here to go to the 

U.S. Army Corps of Engineers  Research and Development Center website

Missouri Department of Conservation News

   Caution to Goose Hunters ......

RiverBill's received the following e-mail news from Jim Low of the Missouri Department of Conservation

Goose hunters urged to watch for swans
Incident at Eagle Bluffs Conservation Area points up the need for caution.
 

JEFFERSON CITY—The killing of five trumpeter swans in central Missouri underlines the serious risks involved in failing to identify waterfowl before shooting

        Eight trumpeter swans (Cygnus buccinator) apparently arrived at Eagle Bluffs Conservation Area (CA) in southern Boone County the night of Dec. 29. Some hunters failed to properly identify their targets and killed five of the swans, apparently mistaking them for snow geese.
        Other hunters witnessed the shootings and alerted conservation agents, who confiscated the birds as evidence. A February court date has been set for the resulting cases.
        Trumpeter swans bear only a superficial resemblance to snow geese, the only even slightly similar bird that is legal to hunt in Missouri. Both are mostly white. However, trumpeter swans’ size, their long necks relative to their body size and the entirely white color of adult swans’ wings makes them easy to distinguish from other native waterfowl. Snow geese are much smaller and have black wing tips.
        Trumpeter swans are the the largest birds native to North America. Adult males measure 57 to 64 inches long and weigh around 25 pounds. Adult females range from 55 to 60 inches and weigh approximately 20 pounds. Their wingspans can approach 8 feet, and they fly with their extremely long necks outstretched.
        The Missouri Department of Conservation urges waterfowl hunters to learn to identify legal ducks and geese and to take special care in identifying large white birds. Do not shoot if there is any doubt about a large, white bird’s identity. For help identifying swans and other waterfowl, visit www.mdc.mo.gov/9528.
        Trumpeter swans are known to be in Missouri now and the possibility of swan sightings will continue throughout much of the winter. The hunting season for snow and blue geese runs until Jan. 30, and following that the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service’s Light Goose Conservation Order extends hunting for snow and Ross’s geese until April 30.
        Hunters who shoot trumpeter swans risk thousands of dollars in fines and the possible loss of hunting privileges. A 2005 case in which hunters killed three trumpeter swans at Robert E. Talbot CA in Lawrence County resulted in penalties of more than $5,000 and a six-month jail sentence. The jail sentence was suspended on two year’s probation.
        Trumpeter swans inhabit both North America and Eurasia . Although not classified as endangered nationally, they are considered extirpated in Missouri . The species’ Midwest population is estimated at 5,000.
        One pair of trumpeter swans has nested successfully on private land in north-central Missouri in recent years, and increasing numbers of trumpeter swans from the upper Midwest and Canada migrate to Missouri each winter.
 

-Jim Low-

Click here to go the Missouri Department of Conservation website

Con Trios Yacht Club

     January Get Together.......

Bill,

The final report and some pictures of the January Get Together have been posted on the Con Trios Yacht Club website, www.contriosyachtclub.org

Darryll Weil, Fleet Captain
 

U.S. Coast Guard photograph

WASHINGTON -- Customs and Border Protection Marine Interdiction Agent Joe Bricker from the CBP Key Largo, Fla., office out of the Miami Branch sits aboard one of the two 33-foot patrol boats that are available to patrol the Potomac River in Washington, D.C., Tuesday, Jan. 20, 2009. The CBP has sent agents and boats to work under the direction of the U.S. Coast Guard for increased maritime security during the 56th Presidential Inauguration and the days leading up to it.

(U.S. Coast Guard photo/Petty Officer 3rd Class Jonathan Lindberg)
 

Fishing Reports ....... 

Click here to read the Chicago Sun - Times Fishing Report for  Jan 21, 2009

Click here to read a story in the Chicago Sun-Times about a fisherman who caught a 7 pound 3 ounce largemouth bass while out ice-fishing.  The ice-angler had to use his pocket knife to widen the hole in the ice to get this big one out.

Discount Boat Show Tickets ....... 

Discounts to boating, fishing and sport shows around the country are available on the TakeMeFishing.org website.

Click here and check-it-out.

55th St Louis Boat & Sports Show Offer....

Buy 3 Tickets and Get 1 FREE! Offer only valid online

Sundowners Super Bowl Party.......

Icy Mississippi River Pictures  .........

"Ice on the Mississippi" picture by Laura Holmburg posted in the Southeast Missourian..... Click here

"Ice Sight" posted in TheTelegrapgh.com ....Click here

Boat Manufacturing .........

Tracker Marine

Tracker Marine in Bolivar, Missouri plans to lay off 80 workers by March. The company is consolidating boat-building at its Lebanon plant.  Reason: soft consumer demand for boats.

The plant’s work force was cut two times in 2008.  One hundred jobs were shifted to the Lebanon plant last October.

Click here to read this news story on News-Leader.com out of Springfield, Mo.

Stratos Boats, Inc has laid-off about a third of its workforce at its boat plant in Murfreesboro, Tennessee.  The cut back is due to slow sales.

Approximately 80  employees lost their jobs at the same plant before the holidays.

Click here to read this news story on WKRN.com

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

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

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

Click here for map
 

Thank you
Jamie Aslin

Don't Forget The Cooler !

   Canberra, Australia

   Two Men From Sunken Boat Drift For 25 Days In Cooler

According to a news story in The Seattle Times .....two men were found floating in a bathtub-sized cooler off the coast of Australia.  The two spent 25 days adrift at sea in the pink cooler after their fishing boat sank. There was no sign of  the other 18 crew members.

The men are from the Southeast Asian nation of Myanmar.  They survived on monsoon rainwater for the first 10 days some vomited fish from some sea birds that happened to fly by.

The two were spotted by a routine customs-service flight that patrolling for far larger craft such as illegal trawlers.

The cooler was described as "a waist-high container often used to store freshly caught fish."

Click here to read this news story.

Red Tape For United Kingdom Coastguard

According to a news story in westernmoringnews.co.uk........ Coastguards in the UK must now fill out a health and safety form before responding to any emergencies.
 

Rescue teams have been told by their Maritime and Coastguard Agency they must complete a "vehicle pre-journey risk assessment" before leaving for an incident.

Coastguard volunteers fear it could delay their response time in life-and-death situations.

The rescue teams have to answer four questions about the type of rescue and journey they are about to make. The lead rescuer must detail the "reason for journey" and list the risks the team may face.... including current and forecasted weather conditions.
The leader must explain any "actions taken to mitigate risk" before he can answer whether the risk is "acceptable"... or ..."not."
 

Click here to read this news story

Picture of the Day

Bowling party

River Rat Clan From I Dock @ Alton Marina

  Click on pic to enlarge

Our River Picture of the Day..... Is from Steve Nonn and Sharon

Hi Bill,
So what do river rats do during the winter months?

They get together for a bowling party, here is the clan from Alton Marina... I Dock

Billy & Sharon - "Copier Cat",

Steve & Sue - "Nothin But A Good Time",

Brian & Charlene - "Docktor's Excuse",

Kraig & Stephanie - "Blonde Kitty",

Kent & Suzanne - "Full Blown Fuelishness"

Rich & Martha, "Long Way Home"

Yesteryears

Picture of the Day

Yester Year's River Picture of the Day in 2006.......   was one of those great Steve Schulte photograph's.  He caught the silhouette large bird as it was floating in for a wet landing in water that was oozing with orange and blue reflections from the setting  sun.  The setting sun is a guess on my part, it looks like a sunset picture to me.

  Check out  Steve's website...... www.steveschulte.com

Navigation Notices ......

To: ALL MARINERS
From: Coast Guard Upper Miss
Date: 1/19/09
Subject: GROUNDING/ADRIFT BARGES
NAVNOTICE # 1547

WESTERN RIVERS BNM NR 0016-09 UM
SAFETY AND SCHED BCSTS UNTIL CANCELLED
USCG NOTICE TO MARINERS EIGHTH DISTRICT NR 0016-09 UM
UPPER MISSISSIPPI RIVER
THE CG HAS RCVD A REPORT THAT A M/V RAN AGROUND AT MM 138 UMR LDB WITH THE SAINT LOUIS GUAGE READING 6.5 FT ON 19JAN09. SEVERAL BUOYS ARE MISSING AND NPMC. ALL MARINERS ARE REQUESTED TO TRANSIT THIS AREA WITH EXTREME CAUTION.
BT
NNNN
 

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

Contact:  Doug Edelman 

Flotilla Staff Officer - Publications 3-13 8WR USCGAUX
Assistant District Staff Officer - Public Affairs
edeldoug@charter.net
636-379-0877
January 18, 2009

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:

Bud's Place to Host USCG Auxiliary Safe Boating Class

Boater Education Saves Lives

Missouri’s Mandatory Boater Education Law, which took effect January 1, 2005, requires that every Missouri resident born after January 1, 1984 who operates a vessel on Missouri lakes must carry a boating safety identification card issued by the State Water Patrol, and a valid photo ID. This requirement includes operators of personal watercraft like Jet-Skis. The boating safety ID card indicates successful completion of a boating safety education course.

Flotilla 3-13 of the United States Coast Guard Auxiliary will be offering such a Boating Safety course at Bud's Place on the I-70 North Outer Road in St Charles. The class meets from 9:00 AM to 1:00 PM on 2 consecutive Saturday mornings, March 21 and March 28, 2009. Successful completion of this course will not only earn the boating safety ID card, but will give you invaluable information which will help you to remain safe on the water.

Pre-registration is necessary as space is limited. Sign up will be held at Bud's on March 14 from 10 AM to 2 PM. For more information, contact Mark at msz@charter.net or cell phone number 314-803-7044.
 

To learn more about boater education, Vessel Safety Checks and other services provided by the Coast Guard Auxiliary – or if you are interested in learning how to become one of us – please visit us online at www.uscgauxflotilla3-13.org or contact us at bcz@charter.net.


The United States Coast Guard Auxiliary is composed of uniformed, non-military volunteer civilians who assist the Coast Guard in all of its varied missions, except for military and direct law enforcement. These men and women can be found on the nation’s waterways, in classrooms and on the dock, performing safety patrols, vessel safety examinations and public education. The 28,000 members of the Coast Guard Auxiliary donate millions of hours annually in support of Coast Guard missions.


 

###


 

Evansville, Indiana

     Slack Water Port Suggested ...... 

According to a news story in the courierpress........ Evansville Port Authority has conducted a feasibility study on developing a slack water port on the Ohio River at Evansville, Indiana. 

The study showed that the port upgrade would provide a low cost, environmentally friendly transportation alternative and also help improve Southern Indiana's economy.


The City of Evansville has filed a letter with the Army Corps of Engineers expressing the city's interest in developing a slack water port.

Click here to read the entire news article

Slack Water is defined in Answers.com as

     "An area in a sea or river unaffected by currents; still water."
 

Good River News....... 

From: "Susan Cutler"

Sundowners Super Bowl Party.......

Missouri State Water Safety Education Classes.........

Click here to check out the Missouri State Water Patrol website for more information

Friday, February 6th...... Palisades Yacht Club

   Big Read Book Discussion

Hi Bill,

The St. Charles City-County Library Districtis hosting Big Read Book Discussions in February.

http://www.neabigread.org/about.php

The Big Read book for St. Charles County February 2009 is Call of the Wild by Jack London.

http://www.neabigread.org/books/callofthewild/

There are also other Big Read programs our district will be putting on: http://www.youranswerplace.org/information/winter_adult_programs_08.pdf

The North County Library

Big Read Book Discussion

will be held at

Palisades Yacht Club

on Fri Feb 6 from 7:00 - 8:30pm.

We will have tables reserved near

the fireplace.

Anyone who would like to register...click here

We have copies of Call of the Wild here

at the library available for those who

would like to attend the discussion.

The library is located at:

1825 Commonfield Road

(636) 753-3070

Our hours are:

Monday noon - 8:00 pm

Tuesday noon - 8:00 pm

Thursday 9:00 am - 8:00 pm
Saturday 9:00 am - noon

Thank you, Amber
--
Amber Sullivan
Teen Services/
Reference Paraprofessional
(636) 753-3070
North County Branch Library
St. Charles City-County Library District

U.S. Coast Guard photograph

BURLINGTON, Vt.- Seaman Jonathan Vorwerk pulls Senior Chief Petty Officer Louis Coleman from the icy, 33F-degree waters of Lake Champlain in Burlington, Vt., during an ice rescue drill, Friday, Jan. 16, 2009. The crew of Coast Guard Station Burlington frequently conducts ice rescue drills to familiarize themselves with the challenges that come with making rescues on a frozen lake. The air temperature hovered around negative 4F degrees.

(U.S. Coast Guard photo/Petty Officer 2nd Class Etta Smith)
 

Overland Park Boat Show.........

   Thurs, Jan 22 - Sun Jan 25

   Overland Park Convention Center

   Kansas City

 Click here  for more information

Picture of the Day

  Click on pic to enlarge

Our River Picture of the Day..... Is another from Mary Tiemann.  Its a shot of Carl and Pat at Iowa Island.

The boats look like they are really stacked in there from this angle.

Yesteryears

Picture of the Day

Yester Year's River Picture of the Day in 2007.......  was from Capt'n Mike

Capt Mike.

River History....... 

In the summer of 1673 Marquette and Jolliet were traveling down the Mississippi River by canoe just below the mouth of the Illinois River when they spotted the a demon painted upon a bluff. (The Piasa Bird)
Marquette wrote in his journal that demon worship existed in this area of the wilderness, but before Marquette could finish his writing they encountered the swirling waters where the Missouri River entered the Mississippi River .
The demon remained visible on the river bluffs until the 1850's. The cliff containing the painting was quarried for gravel.
 

Source:

http://pages.ripco.net/~jwn/illinois.html#history

Click here to check out the Missouri State Water Patrol website

Picture of the Day

  Click on pic to enlarge

Our River Picture of the Day..... is a shot of the bluffs last fall along the Great River Road just up-river from Alton, IL.

 Look at those colors !

Yesteryears

Picture of the Day

Yester Year's River Picture of the Day in 2007.......was sent in by Capt'n Tauni Shuck. Tauni and his friend Jeff were out doing some Winter boating.

   Have a great week.

Tauni

January 31, 2009

   Louisiana, Mo - Winter Festival and Polar Plunge -----     

What is a POLAR PLUNGE?  An event sponsored by the Louisiana Police Department as a fundraiser for the Special Olympics.  

A few common nouns/adjectives used to describe the participants:  Idiots, crazy people, they’re out of their minds!!  The POLAR PLUNGE consists of individuals jumping, diving, or running into the Mississippi River .  The Plungers collect donations for the Special Olympics.  This is only one of the many activities scheduled for Saturday, January 31, 2009.  

  Click here for flyer and more information

River History....Did you know ? 

The United States Power Squadron was organized in 1914.  It's a non profit, educational organization dedicated to making boating safer and more enjoyable by teaching classes in seamanship, navigation and related subjects.

  For more info go to http://www.usps.org/newpublic1/guesthome.htm

Picture of the Day

  Click on pic to enlarge

Our River Picture of the Day..... was sent in by MaryBeth Tiemann, who hails out of Eagles Landing Marina in the cruiser.... The Crystal Lady

Its a shot of some rendezvous tee pees along the Illinois River at Grafton.

That's Terra Point on the bluff.

Yesteryears

Picture of the Day

Yester Year's River Picture of the Day in 2006  ------  What picture was at the helm of RiverBill's last year on this day ? 

    The "Pictures of the Day", shown above, from one year ago (2006) were submitted by Gary Lucy out of Palisades marina and are nothing short of Spectacular !    

Gary wrote in his e-mail :

Bill, 

I enjoy your river picture of the day and Alton pool information.  I have enclosed a couple if you would like to use them:  1)  Sunset on the River  2) Grafton at Sunrise.

 I have a 35' Kingscraft houseboat, The River Rover, that I am making into a river studio for my work.   She is at Palisades marina.  I am an artist with a studio and gallery in Washington, MO.  Go to www.garylucy.com for information about my work.   I have been working as an artist for 34 years and using the river as a subject for about 25 years.

 Keep up the good work my friend,

Gary R. Lucy  

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

The Old Chain of Rocks Bridge is an ideal location for everyone to get up close to the birds....

Click here to find out more........

Click here to check out the Missouri State Water Patrol website

River Fact....

Towboats have names like:

 ~  Mv. City Of New Orleans

 ~  Mv. Joseph Patrick Epstein. 

  The acronym "Mv"…….. means ……. "Merchant Vessel"

Picture of the Day

  Click on pic to enlarge

Our River Picture of the Day..... was sent in by Mary Beth Tiemann, who hails out of Eagles landing in the boat ...The Crystal Lady

Its a shot of Mary and the River Girls with the American Queen in the background.

The American Queen looks like it is heading up-river past Iowa Island towards the power lines.  The stacks are in the down position so it can clear the lines.

RiverBill says... Thanks for the picture Mary.

Yesteryears

Picture of the Day

Yester Year's River Picture of the Day in 20078.......was sent in by from Carole Bindbeutel.

Hi Bill,

I was feeling cold on this icy Saturday morning and found this picture from the 2006 Blessing of the Fleet remembering how hot it was and how COLD that water was when we went under it.

Hopefully all the Marinas get thru this ice storm without further damaged.

Have a great weekend,
Carole

.  

The Old Chain of Rocks Bridge is an ideal location for everyone to get up close to the birds....

Click here to find out more........

River History....

Pere Marquette State Park Lodge was built by the Civilian Conservation Corps from 1933-1939, opening for business in 1940. 

For more info go to http://www.ilresorts.com/pml/

Con Trios Yacht Club January Get-Together!

Click here to go to Con Trios yacht Club website for more info.....

Picture of the Day

  Click on pic to enlarge

Our Pictures of the Day..... were sent in by Lou Ammighetti of the Missouri State Water Patrol

Riverbill,

Here are a few of the pictures taken by Missouri relief team while in Louisiana. The team consisted of 6 Water Patrol Officers and 6 Conservation Agents. These pictures were taken near the town of New Rhodes, LA.  The town was approximately 30 NW of Baton Rouge or 100 Miles Nw of New Orleans. The effects of the storm left much of the lower half of the state without power and access to supplies for several weeks

Corporal Lou Amighetti

Public Information Officer

Missouri State Water Patrol

2401 E. McCarty Street
P.O. Box 1368
Jefferson City, MO 65102-1368
(573) 751-3333 Phone
Lou.Amighetti@mswp.dps.mo.gov
 

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

Yesteryears

Picture of the Day

Yester Year's River Picture of the Day in 2006....... was sent in by Jim Vineyard of the Duck Club. 

Bill,

 Went to Tera Point Last Saturday evening for a night with friends. Took this sunset picture on the ferry ride over.

Jim

.  

River History

     Wabash Bridge That Crosses The Missouri River A St. Charles

May 1871 in River History -
St. Charles…..The first railroad bridge to span the Missouri River opened to traffic in May. It is now the Wabash Railroad Bridge

1879 in River History -
A span of the Wabash Railroad Bridge that crosses the Missouri River at St. Charles gave way while a train was crossing the bridge.
Eighteen cars fell into the river and five men were killed

1881 in River History -
The Wabash bridge that crosses the Missouri River at St. Charles again failed and 31 cars filled with cattle and freight fell into the river and
sand below. The engineer was the only fatality.

Source:
http://www.win.org/library/services/lhgen/impdates.htm

River History

   Portage Des Sioux........

 

The city of Portage Des Sioux was founded in 1799 by Spanish Lt. Gov. Zenon Trudeau and François Saucier. The French name originated from an overland escape route between the Mississippi and Missouri Rivers that was used by a band of Sioux Indians fleeing enemies. The Sioux portaged their canoes across the land in this area and outdistanced their rivals who took the river all the way to the confluence.

Source:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Portage_des_Sioux,_Missouri

Friday, 16 January  2009  

Con Trios Yacht Club January Get-Together!

Click here to go to Con Trios yacht Club website for more info.....

Picture of the Day

  Click on pic to enlarge

Our River Picture of the Day..... Is of a new river destination in Alton, IL

Tim Brueggeman and the staff are waiting to serve you !

Spirits Lounge

Temple Banquet Center

300 State Street

Alton, IL

618 - 463 - 5555

A 3500 square feet charismatic location for any occasion

Click here for website

Yesteryears

Picture of the Day

Yester Year's River Picture of the Day in 2008....... was a photo taken by Michelle Mick. 

A lone Cruiser out for a "Winter Ride"

.  

File Photo  2008 Show

submitted by Marty Haugh

St. Louis Boat Show Features

    February 11 - 15, 2009

Antique Boat Display.........4198
 

Click here for more information

River History....

Did You Know  ......that in the first half of the 19th century the Mississippi River formed two channels at St. Louis, forming an island between them named Bloody Island. A smaller island, named Duncan's Island, was formed below the city.. 
  Fearing that the levee at St. Louis could be left high and dry……. federal assistance was obtained and under the direction of Robert E. Lee.  Levees were built on the Illinois side of the river to direct water toward the Missouri side, thus eliminating the second channel. Bloody Island was joined to the mainland of Illinois and Duncan's Island was washed away by the river
  

Click here to go to the Encyclopedia Wikipedia for more info.

Friday, 16 January  2009  

The Chicago Sanitary and Ship Canal

In 1900, the Chicago Sanitary and Ship Canal was built to link the Great Lakes to the Illinois and the Mississippi Rivers.

Once the canal was complete the City of Chicago started flushing its waste down the Illinois River rather than in to its own Lake Michigan.

For more information on the Chicago Sanitary Canal go to:
http://www.historymania.com/american_history/Chicago_Sanitary_and_Ship_Canal

Picture of the Day

  Click on pic to enlarge

Our River Picture of the Day..... is a shot of the upper end of the Dardenne Slough near the Golden Eagle Ferry Landing on the Missouri side of the Mississippi River.  

This shot was taken a coupe of weeks ago.  The slough was almost solid ice, but a few spots still looked open.

Yesteryears

Picture of the Day

Yester Year's River Picture of the Day in 2005....... was of the Grafton Ferry in a snowy and partially frozen river.

Thanks for the great pic "Hackermax" ! 

.  

St. Louis Boat Show Features

    February 11 - 15, 2009

Dock Dogs—Big Air Dogs® and Extreme Vertical® Competition
DockDogs will be performing at this year's show..... www.dockdogs.com

Passport Fair
The U.S. Postal Service will offer a special Passport Fair at this year's boat show

~ Booth numbers 1711 & 1713.

~ Hours Wed 5 – 7pm, Thur 2 - 8pm, Fri 12 – 8pm, Sat 11 – 8pm,  Sun 11 - 5pm.
 

Texas Bass Tank
A 12-foot tall, 40-foot long mobile glass aquarium that will be stocked with native fish

~ Professional casting demos daily
 

Click here for more information

Don't Shoot.... We're Republicans

Capt' Johnny Hornung sent us an e-mail about the story of the USS WILLIAM D PORTER (DD-579) named:

Don't Shoot.... We're Republicans

"From November 1943, until her demise in June 1945, the American destroyer USS WILLIAM D PORTER was often hailed.....whenever she entered port or joined other Naval ships.....with the greeting....."Don't shoot, we're Republicans!"

The William D Porter was the ship that accidentally fired a live torpedo at the battleship USS IOWA during a practice exercise. Aboard the IOWA was President Franklin D. Roosevelt, Secretary of State Cordell Hull and all of the WWII military brass of the United States !  Thank God the torpedo missed the IOWA or the last 50 years of world history would have been quite different !
 

Click here to read this story.... Its good !

Kid Rock's Boat Antique Looking Boat.......

http://wiki.answers.com/Q/What_kind_of_boat_is_in_the_kid_rock_video

River History....

The Mississippi River flood of 1993 was the worst in U.S. history. It covered 17,000 square miles in nine states. Forty-eight people died in the 1993 Mississippi River flood. Damages where estimated as $15 to 20 billion.

For more info go to http://www.mhhe.com/earthsci/geology/mcconnell/saf/miss.htm

Loopers.......
 

The Great Loop, or the Great Circle, is the circumnavigation of Eastern North America by water.

The voyage can variy from 5,000 miles to 7,500 miles depending on the routes taken.

Boats can vary fin size from personal watercraft to yachts, but the most common boats are 34 - 45 ft trawlers. One of the main factors that govern the size of the boat used for the trip is the 5 foot draft limitation in some locations on the loop.  Another limitation is the 19 foot height of one bridge in Chicago, Illinois.

"Loopers" are what they are called...... that's the name given to the people traveling the Great Loop. Since a lot of the Baby Boomers reaching retirement age, the numbers of people traveling the loop is growing and growing.

In 2007 more than 150 boat owners notified America's Great Loop Cruisers' Association that they were planning to travel the loop.

Source:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Great_loop

Picture of the Day

  Click on pic to enlarge

Our Picture of the Day..... is a

Bench with a view

This one is at Creve Coure Park in Maryland Heights.... 

What a place to watch a spectacular sunset !

Yesteryears

Picture of the Day

Yester Year's Boat Pictures From Negril, Jamaica 2007---- Its a shot of some of the fishing boats on the Negril River... all painted up in bright colors.  This fishing village is just a few steps from the ocean and an excellent place to buy fresh seafood. 

We like the lobster. Pick out a live one and they will cook it up for you right there with a big Jamaican smile. Relax, enjoy a cold beverage and some good conversation with the locals while they are preparing your feast..

The river is usually very shallow where it empties into the ocean....  You can see the shallow sandy area  at the mouth next to the pier.

.  

Missouri State Water Patrol News Release.....

NEWS RELEASE
PUBLIC INFORMATION SECTION, P.O. Box 1368, Jefferson City, MO  65102

Colonel Rad C. Talburt, Commissioner                                                     

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: St. Louis Metro Area

Mandatory Education Reminder During Off Season Boating

We are well into the winter season and boaters' attention shifts from aquatic pleasures to the kids' school activities. Summer boating tends to become just a pleasant memory only to be revived next spring when thoughts turn once again to boating. For most, the adage of, "out of sight, out of mind" would seem to apply. The Missouri State Water Patrol would like to remind boat operators that they can prepare for this upcoming boating season this winter.

Missouri's mandatory Boater Safety Education Law that went into effect on January 1, 2006, requiring all resident and non-resident boat operators born after January 1, 1984 to have a boater safety certification card before operating boats on the lakes of this state. If you have a boat operator who was born after that date, they must have successfully completed a boater safety certification course and have their certification card with them before they can operate a vessel. It should be noted a personal watercraft (PWC) is considered a vessel. All non-resident boat operators born after January 1, 1984, will be required to have successfully completed a National Association of State Boating Law Administrators (NASBLA) approved course and carry proof of completion with them when operating the boat.

A good time to become certified is during the off season. If it is necessary for you to become certified, you have several options. You can take the online course (http://mswp.dps.mo.gov), order the home study course, or take one of our classroom courses listed on our website. Call 1-800-830-2268 for ordering a Missouri home study course. You may also get a certification card from any other state's NASBLA approved course; however, you will be required to have proof of successful completion of the course and a photo ID with you while you are operating the watercraft.

 

Eagle Time......

Capt'n Elmer Armstrong sent us the following e-mail and video link.

Bill,

Thought some of the "River Bill" people might enjoy this.
 
Read the narrative before viewing.
 
 This is an awesome music video featuring a special free-flying Bald
 Eagle named 'Challenger' (in honor of the lost space shuttle crew)
 cared for by the non-profit American Eagle Foundation (AEF).
 
 He's a 'human socialized' bird accidentally raised by the people who  rescued him - after being blown from a wild Louisiana nest in a storm as a baby in the late 1980's. Declared 'non-releasable' by federal and state wildlife authorities, he was trained by the AEF to perform educational free-flight demonstrations at high profile public events.
 He's the first Bald Eagle in U.S. history that learned to free-fly into stadiums, arenas and ballrooms during the singing of the Star Spangled Banner. The celebrity eagle has appeared at numerous major sporting events like the World Series, Pro-Bowl, All-Star game, BCS National Championship, Fiesta Bowl and Men's Final Four, etc.
 
 Challenger has also flown before four U.S. Presidents!
 
 His life story is told in a children's storybook titled 'Challenger, America 's Favorite Eagle.'
 
 Turn on your speakers and click on link below. (3 1/2 mins)
 
 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mfevfJNDuIg&eurl=http://www.eagles.org/
 
 Elmer Armstrong

St. Louis Boat Show

    February 11 - 15, 2009

America's Center and Edward Jones Dome
701 Convention Center Plaza
St. Louis, MO 63101

Show Hours

Wednesday, February 11 5 pm – 10 pm
Thursday, February 12 2 pm – 10 pm
Friday, February 13 noon – 10 pm
Saturday, February 14 10 am – 10 pm
Sunday, February 15 11 am – 5 pm

Admission
$9 Adult ticket
$14 Two-Day Pass
(good any two days from Feb. 6th–10th)
$5.00 Youth (13-15)

Children ages 12 & younger enter FREE!
 

Click here for more information

The New Issue Of Missouri Conservationist Magazine Is Out........The paper and on-line edition of  the December, Missouri Conservationist Magazine is out.

  Click here to view it the on-line edition

  This edition contains some articles you might be interested in as boaters:

         For the bird lovers....An entire section on Missouri birds ! 

         "Missouri Department of Conservation Annual Report"  

Missouri Boaters...It's Time  ------  to send in your Missouri  "Motor Fuel Refund Claim" form.

    Click here for the "Motor Fuel Refund Claim Form

    Click here for the Marine Fuel Purchases Form

River History....

   MacArthur Bridge

The City of St. Louis built the MacAthur Bridge across the Mississippi River to break the monopoly of the Terminal Railroad Association. The Terminal Railroad Association controlled the two other bridges that crossed the Mississippi River at St. Louis and charged unreasonable rates.

The original name of the bridge was Municipal Bridge….

The official name of the bridge today is the "Gen. Douglas MacArthur Bridge"

Timeline

May 23, 1906

Bill submitted to US Congress to authorize the City of St. Louis to construct a new bridge across the  Mississippi River

June 12, 1906

St. Louis passes $3.5 million bond issue to pay for the new bridge

June 25, 1906

Congress passes bill authorizing construction of new bridge

July 15, 1907

Construction begins on Missouri side of bridge

May 20, 1909

War Department approves final plans for bridge

Dec. 20, 1909

Construction begins on river piers

Nov. 6, 1914

$2.75 million bond issue approved by voters

Jan. 20, 1917

Highway deck of new bridge is opens for traffic

May 16, 1918

Control of the new bridge is given to the Municipal Bridge Commission

Aug. 31, 1989

City of St. Louis trades the MacArthur Bridge with the Terminal Railroad Association for the Eads Bridge.

 

For more info and pictures go to:

http://www.bridgehunter.com/mo/st-louis-city/macarthur/