Howdy, y'all, a realtor told me this morning, and I confirmed it with the assistant to their Mayor, Vicky Peerman, that the American Queen did dock at Mt. Vernon, Indiana.  The motor coaches were already lined up before the passengers left the boat.  The passengers were to visit downtown Mt. Vernon, Indiana and see the shops, visit the area around the courthouse.  That area is reviving and will have condos, new retail and eateries coming soon.  In their masterplan they have new street signage and brick ways to add to the great look of american heritage in the intersections. 

The American Queen passengers are to tour the quaint town of New Harmony, Indiana, where they will see their downtown.  It is a great town.  I learned to weave there.  Plus, do pottery.  It has an art gallery, some quaint shops, a settlement where they can see different places folks lived in the 1800's, watch possible candlemaking, horse shoes, and basket weaving.  It is a quaint small town.  But, it will make an impression on them.  The Rappites settled there....it was to create a perfect society.  They were religious folks, self sustaining.  There is even a recently renovated Grainery that they can see.  It is quite an amazement what they did back then.  All stone.  The boat is to leave at 12:00noon from Mt. Vernon, Indiana.  The town is buzzing and blooming to have them there.  Eventually, they are to add a marina from their masterplan.  The boat ramp is very ample, has a neat grandstand by it, and rolls right up to the downtown area. 

Hope those passengers have as much fun as the folks that kept me posted about the boat being there.  I think they had more fun!!  Mary

Howdy, y'all, it is crisp sunny day here in Evansville, Indiana.  It is great to keep the exemption fight going no matter what happens to the Delta Queen.  Our city has the top three who have been against river boats to try and get the Queen series here.  Say, what.  After mentioning to the media that I wasn't in that, I was hoping the local CVB would be able to do its job.  No, we have to bring in the dark horses.  One is with the LST 325 and the Port Authority, one is the giant Naysayer--marina guy who didn't want other boats here--who kept economic development from being here, and another who just doesn't know what is going on period, listening to the other two. Now, believe it or not, I talk to several other overnight cabin companies just to help anyone in our river region get them to stop, hoping eventually the local CVB will be able to do its job and keep those folks as contacts.   

Grandview, Indiana, showed our city, we're the largest shopping hub in two to three hours drive, that if you have the right equipment, you can dock 'em, the Queen series.  Mt. Vernon, In, has a great masterplan for its river front.

Hopefully, in the next six months, we'll have better docking here for all sorts of boats.  Otherwise, folks like me have to look to the smaller well equipped cities in our Ohio River region.  Even the local CVB can't do what they do best, tell the truth for one, and help get boats like the Queen series here.  Our municipal dock wasn't done right, makes even nuns  curse on the subject, so we have the top three who didn't want river boats here trying to get the Queen series here.....say, what.  It is all about the municipal dock, election year, too.  Look, our public loves river boats.  Folks will even stop what they are doing and run out of their million dollar homes  on down if they hear the calliopes just to tell you we love you and want you here.  Calliope music is Magic happening!!

It is the public that understands that our heritage is riverboats.  We were number one in manufacturing in the world and river traffic.  Seven boats along riverbanks waiting to load up commercial items and steamboats boarding one time each hour in the early 1900's.  In time, hopefully, just six months, we'll have some better ways to dock boats besides our great Nu Plaza Yacht Club, who loves riverboats versus another area marina that doesn't and fools you all.   Nu Plaza Yacht Club is expanding and renovating and I'm proud of what they've done lately.  Upscale look. 

So, someday I hope the local CVB can do their job correctly, I'm having less threats by politicans which is a plus....could have run for Mayor and both sides picked on me,  oops,  big  oops, even bigger oops, and now I'm suppose to not let the local policians 'gravel' for forgiveness.  Say, what.

Oh, well, you have to act bigger than they are.  Where are those cursing nuns when you need them.  ANYWAY, I'll keep in there to make our western Kentucky and southern Indiana waterways better as I believe that is a great mission.  So, does the Ohio River Region.  Now, I'm in the position.....HHEEEE, HHEEE, HaHa, to turn things around for the yahoo politicians on river boats.  That is too funny, cost me a lot of money, a lot of money.  I hung in there, but had the wind beneath my wings, the Ohio River Region and a dear friend that believed like me that River boats is a great thing.  You watch our area.  We're here to rock the Ohio River and now is a great time to do that.  Keep watching us.  It's our heritage.  Mary 

Howdy, y'all, in the site www.evansvillecourierpressonline.com for the date of Sunday, September 9, 2007, there is a whale of a story in the newspaper about different cities along the Ohio River region that is getting the Queen series.  It is a front page story and bleeds into another partial page.  It is a large story.  Grandview, Indiana has done what Henderson, Ky, has been able to do.  Steal the hearts of the Queen series.  Now, this small town is small but it has a great view of the river, it is picturesque, and the folks are treating them down right good.  The docking is simple and gorgeous.  I was on WTVW, Fox 7 news tonight at www.tristatehomepage.com getting the word out to the city that we need to look at providing a better docking area....think they'll listen....I've been asking this for the past three years.  Well, Grandview, Indiana, is showing the rest of them that they got it going on.  The story in the newspaper is "The Queen and her court".  It has several photos in the story.  I'm so proud of our folks in Grandview, Indiana.  Heck, Evansville, In, the city administration is looking to purchase the Port of Evansville, but golly, all they need to do is upgrade our boat ramps, put a large enough docking area by the bend of the river and it can sizzle.  I'm talking to the River Cities Condos folks in Minnesota to eventually dock here.  Look on his website, the same name and you'll be amazed what this guy has.  Travels all over the waterways.  ANYWAY, so I'm sure that the city of Evansville, In, will lighten up and hopefully figure out a way to get an area that even matches slightly what Grandview, In, has, make some walkway area for accessible motor coaching.  I have been preaching this for three years and geez it may finally hit the knuckleheads in the head.  A toast to Grandview, Indiana!!!!  WHEE!!  HOORAY!!  Mary

Howdy, the Ohio River region in western Kentucky and southern Indiana is continuing the change in what you currently see and what is coming.

In Evansville, In, the Port of Evansville is for sale at $5.7 million dollars.  It is near the bend of the river right at our main site for the river front.  We have a bike path around the river front area infront of all of the buildings and adding soon the last phase.  It is widely used.  ANYWAY, the port is on about 17 acres or a tad less with CSX suppose to be leaving the grounds.  It is right on the river front two owners down from the Casino Aztar river boat.  The city has thought different uses for it.  I have only asked for a small parcel to add a marina.  The city may add another marina, possibly a harbor, or other development.  It is industrial area.  So, don't know.  This was the original space some wanted to place the LST-325.  In the end, only guessing, is where some type of marina really does need to be built, but no parking.  No parking. Near a busy thoroughfare that goes to a busier street.  UGH. 

The LST-325 got here in October of 2005 and just received 50,000 visitors in our city.  It travels to other places once a year to help folks remember WWII and connect with those folks and/or cities that helped build ships, planes, ammunition and such for WWII.  It is, as some of us felt, serves an educational tool to kids and folks about our country's history.  I think now the folks are surprised how many school kids they can attract for lessons....can't teach them here, but they find out elsewhere thing.  The trip to Peoria, IL, was a success as along the river before getting to Alton, IL, they already had 37,000 folks visit the LST-325.  The water got too high to travel to Henry, IL, and they couldn't go under certain bridges.  They have quickly found out, that some of us advising directly or indirectly to travel to other places is paying off for them.  They already thought about travelling to other places and now see the benefit.  If it wasn't for their many volunteers, that LST-325 would be in a bind.  It is the volunteers that keep it going.  In time they will find more ways to interact with our regional folks.  They have added re-enactments for WWII special battles and that is helpful.  They are learning and adjusting and added folks to watch on the top deck for fireworks this year.  It evidently has been a process for them, I don't know and haven't gotten involved with them.  I only know what I see.  The volunteers have kept this part of American history alive.

Owensboro, Kentucky, is wanting to expand condos/lofts/ whatever along their river front and hope that someone steps up to the plate.  Evansville, Indiana is adding some more very large houses along the river front by the LST-325.  The area in Tell City, Indiana should blossom once the work starts on the new Harbor they are building.  SO more lofts and condos may help inside their city versus being along the river.  Henderson, Ky, now has a new funky bar by the boat ramp that reminds one of the Jimmy Buffet style.  It is cute and smartly done for a small amount of money.

All in all, our Ohio River region from western Kentucky and southern Indiana is shaping up quite nicely.  Within two years you will see a different river region.  It is exciting.  I'm glad to be a part of it in some ways, and glad to see it all take shape.  True, we're two years behind, but this year, it is past and around the Evansville, In, politics and it is forward.  There are some neat things happening that folks will have true pride in this river region.  Lots of us have been cheerleading, pushing, and striving.  It will happen and even better than we planned.  Just have to keep in there.  Things are starting to take shape.  Mary