Howdy y'all.  I've just tried to contact the New York Times and Wall St. Journal to see if they'll run a story about the Delta Queen.  Wan't it impressive that so many of the river towns have already done stories in their newspapers on this exemption for the Delta Queen.  WOW!! 

Well, it will be two years since Katrina made its ugly mark on our nation.  Remember how we all pitched in to help find ways to keep the Queen series up and running--doing anything!!  Rerouting became the necessary thing to keep these boats rolling.  Sadly, some of the New Orleans, LA, boats have had to find other homes, but, they did find homes that will take care of them.  So many lives, so many stories, so much has happened these past two years.  I credit the spirit and drive those folks have as they love the city they grew  up in, worked in, shared families with.  Not only should we pause to take a moment to think of those in New Orleans, LA, but also remember those along the Gulf Coast struggling to make lives whole again.   Some wondering why it seems their government has abandoned them.  I pray and hope the best for all our friends affected by Katrina. 

I remember that Sunday when Katrina was to hit.  As a child I had been through Hurricanes Camille, still have those seashells, and later Cecelia.  You don't mess with Hurricanes.  I emailed any steamboat/riverboat company I could think of to keep safe and if they needed anything to email or call, not knowing about any levees breaking.  I only knew about the ravage beast called Hurricanes.  I was just starting in this business but already I felt with friends, with a family. 

The Mississipi Queen passed by our town at 7:00am in the morning--never had seen her in person before and that was one of the best sights I'd seen in a long time.  I followed her in my cargo van, from being up doing some lawns, and Tooted, toot, toot as she passed by with folks probably still asleep on board.  When she headed back up to Cincinnati, Oh, after the storm, she TOOT, Tooted back as she passed our downtown city, soon after the levees broke.  It was Monday, the day of horror to start, not the actual storm.  One of our news stations taped it and played it back for us to view and hear.  It was chilling.  Exciting to hear she was okay, but chilling to not know the future.  Prayerful.  And, then, each of us pitched in to see ideas that the Queen series could use to keep afloat. 

Yep, we're back, again, to help the Delta Queen.  But, don't you do that any and each time for your dear friends, anyway.  It is two years since Katrina, but the Delta Queen needs us again.  Stand up, be counted, and think outside the box, again.  You are needed, each one of us.  We all count.  Anywhere you are in the country, or internationally.  Your voice, your help, and your love for the Delta Queen is needed.  Be counted to help a friend in need.  And, remember the folks in New Orleans, LA.  We do know what it means to miss New Orleans.  Our prayers to you.

Thanks,  Mary K. Hukill, Evansville, Indiana, 812-484-8692

Howdy, well, I got to work and contacted the city media of radio, TV, and newspaper and they got stories about the Exemption vote concerning the Delta Queen.  You can view the FRONT PAGE story and photo of the Delta Queen at www.evansville courier press online.com   You'll get to see a neat story they did.  It has second place today of comments from viewers under the race of the School Budget.  Hey, that is great.  We love the Delta Queen and realize that Henderson, Ky, and the other cities around us have it going on for dockings.  If eventually, Evansville, Indiana, would build another marina area where they propose a harbor to be built, hopefully, that would also attract steamboats.  Otherwise, we have two boat ramps.  I'll keep pushing.  The bows and arrows, machine guns, word mongers aren't so prevelant as they were in years past, but it is a mountain to climb.  Patience.   Our  local CVB, through Marilee Fowler, got from the "Ohio River Scenic Byway" signs lit up all over the place by the river, near the river, near city entrances by the river---probably under someone's Christmas tree, by now.  She has those signs all over the place. Our folks love the calliope, evidently.  A fond memory.

So, you can make a difference, or help the Delta Queen marketing effort, whichever it is, and get the word out.  Heck, if all parts of our media covered it, why couldn't, or shouldn't the other cities cover it.  It is just writing out a simple press release, or in my case a short note, and send it to them by email on your list......or, make a list of media folks.  We're so glad to have the help of the Majestic America Line help out in comments and appreciate their time.  The squeaky wheel gets the grease, so we all have to pitch in and do our parts as a team.  It is a team effort.  We love the Delta Queen, TOOT, TOOT!!  Mary 

Howdy, well, it seems that the fight is still on for the Delta Queen.  I've emailed lots on my email list to help where they can.  A lot are media folks in our state.  This may be one moment when some Presidential candidate may have to make a speech nearby or a political stop. Yep, I'm aware that once you are tied to a boat--you have no politics.  Hey, its an option.  I like the idea of a concert event.  Tape it and put on PBS.  I know of some folks that are from the Lawrence Welk show that more than likely would like to help with a concert on the steamboat.  I'll call the Delta Queen folks and see what they'll allow or how can someone help to pitch in.  That means you'll have to stop the boat somewhere to make it happen.  Feel the creative juices running.   Rally round the boat, folks.

Our three states in the area, Indiana, Kentucky, and Illinois are all making special inspections of the bridges in our tristate area.  Yes, we have some deficient bridges.  So, they are stepping up inspections on Monday.  I hope the US legislators do finally spend the money on these bridges and actually put the money for the up keep of them also.  Not, like the funneling of levee money that didn't make it to the New Orleans, LA, levee repairs over the years.  That is going to be the task at hand.  Keeping the government money where it belongs to help. 

Well, my creative juices are flowing.  Have to contact some area US legislators--and, believe me, they are usually the last folks on my list.  What you do for river boating.  Enjoy the weather.   We get 101 degrees by Thursday--first in ten years.  UGH.  We're not too happy about that.  Otherwise it has been a light year for 90 plus degree weather.  Keep cool and lets SAVE  THE  DELTA  QUEEN!!!   Mary