Howdy,  Mt. Vernon, Indiana just got the American Queen a few days back and the statement to me was "WOW" what a big boat.  You bet it is.  They like being back on the tour route....was in awe of the American Queen.  Michelle Hudson, a realtor there kept me aware of the Delta Queen when she came.....I heard from the Mayor's office, since they don't have a local CVB office, the assistant told me,  "Mary, what a big boat, I mean that is a big boat".  She use to work on a riverboat company up north....can't remember the boat name, her ex-husband has been a captain on the Casino Aztar boat.  Mt. Vernon, Indiana is greatful to be back on the Queen series route from years ago.  Owensboro, Kentucky, who is also in our river region would love to have the Queen series there but has a new Executive Director as the Owensboro Tourism Department and not sure what to do.......hope they are okay in the future.  Their docking contacts are great, very workable folks, have a Bluegrass Museum that is national acclaim and awards, a great Museum of Art--Mrs. Hood the exec. director is a hoot known in our region--southern style museum, the Goldies Little Opryhouse is great family country music entertainment with contacts to Nashville, TN, talent, and the River Park is a Broadway and pre-Broadway place as the new Executive Director is a past Broadway show producer that came out of retirement to do something and building this place up.  Had  a Mystery book/author convention and even Angela Landsbury came as did many other stars.  It was a success.

Hey, folks, Evansville, Indiana isn't in any controversary on river boats or steamboats.  It is only a group of four men, their egos, some crickets, and some mosquitoes that are always trying to stir up controversary.  They don't like river boats, want to appear that they do, will try anything to keep boats from coming, I went around them and found all sorts of docking in the region and in our city of Evansville, Indiana.  I follow the laws and regulations of the USCG and the Army Corps of Engineers....these guys are the opposite in form. 

 We only had 5% of folks vote in our Primary Election and it is expected to be less---folks ticked too much to vote--a buzz for months folks are staying home in protest.....we'll see come election day.  But, those four men are a part of that situation.  SO, the only controversary is these four men.  SO, no, there isn't any controversary in Evansville, Indiana to dock. False information, false words, false in every aspect.  Our public loves riverboats.  Those guys 'want to be in control who comes in to dock'.  You go ahead, a company like mine can dock at private docks. 

Our Ohio River region is adding up the river and steamboats to dock and it is exciting.  Evansville, is a tad slower than most in America, but I keep in there.  They don't like to follow the protocal of the local CVB to do their job in docking or approaching the Queen series as some egos are involved in how bad our municipal dock was done--not right--needed more thought in being able to dock other boats.  Those four guys want someone to let them dock so they 'look like they did the dock right'.  No one believes their speal here in the city of Evansville. 

You should read the comments on the newspaper online area and folks are so mad at how the dock was built for the LST 325.  You should read the comments.  Whew! Folks love the Queen series and get riled up from the decisions of those four guys....it was a committee....but, these guys were the main parts of it all.  SO, while the rest of the Ohio River region rocks on in docking great American treasures, the rest of us are keeping going forward and those four same guys, the past three years, are in quick sand, throwing out whatever they can in their world of 'controversary'.  Ah, let them sink.  The rest of us are going to enjoy river boats when they come in to the private docks in Evansville, Indiana, and the rest of the Ohio River region!!  YEE  HA!!

Hey, heard from the US Commerce Department today and it is their feeling to contact the National Historic Dept. and the USCG to see about help in getting the exemption.  That is a twist.  But, that is their advice as they no longer by Homeland Security get involved for several years in who travels the waterways for exemptions.  SO, we're stuck with that Transportation and Infrastructure committee for any changes it looks like.

Keep in there, folks.  Mary

Howdy, tomorrow and possibly on Saturday there is at least one or two stories in the newspaper about the Queen Series.  www.evansvillecourierpressonline.com  On tomorrow's story is about the Delta Queen in Henderson, Ky, docking in the morning.  Then, there will be a story soon on the Delta Queen and the American Queen stopping in the now famous Grandview, Indiana for their 200th city anniversary.  The Mississippi Queen was to stop by but is under renovations.  Grandview, Indiana, is bursting at the seams on this whole Queen series situation.  Of course Henderson, Ky, is the KING of the Ohio River region right now.  It will be interesting when Tell City, In, and Owensboro, Ky, get their river fronts renovated.  They will blow folks out of the water.  Lots of changes.

My company, Ohio River Boat Cruises since 2004, is in operation as a charter business.  In time, I want to add a riverboat that I own.  In the past a few in our city may have told folks that I don't have this buisness anymore or not involved with any docking here or in the region.  That is far from correct.  Currently, I've talked with folks up and down our river region and we all welcome river boats of all kinds.  In the city of Evansville, In, where I'm from, only a few here don't like river boats and will stop them at all costs.  I don't know why those few don't like river boats and what they have against them or even docking them here.  Chicago didn't get larger only having a boat or two.  We have a Casino boat,  gutted out large river boat, which most folks 'endear' themselves to, and the LST 325.   A river boat isn't in competition with any other boat.  Infact, it should enhance anyone else being on the river.   If you don't like the product, don't buy a ticket. 

 Some few have possibly spread around that I don't call on river boats anymore.  Say, what.  I do, not the aggressive marketing as in the past to spread out the times they can possibly be here.  And, I'd like to complete a sale of a riverboat to own myself.  I've had to concentrate on some property this past year.  I am gearing up, again, and have made contact with a river boat to come and spend some time here in the Ohio River region. The several cities I contacted are excited and ready to add another river boat to stop by.  It will be awesome.  The Public loves river boats.  Don't let a handful of folks deceive you.  We love river boats.

Change is hard for a lot of folks, and when they don't have the opportunity to produce what others can, it sometimes is a match of 'if they don't get credit for doing anyhing, or MONEY under the table or by hook and crook' those folks can be a tad off the wall.   Our public likes river boats and nothing, no one will keep that from coming.  It may be outside our city and then a few years into this market, but I do believe that in Evansville, Indiana we'll get river boats here with proper docking.  I work with Nu Plaza Yacht Club who also Manages the Dogtown Boat ramp, at marker 797, and the President of the Vanderburgh County Commission, Bill Nix.  They listen to me, find ways to make dockings happen, and love boats.  Just a few may try and stop dockings, may try and mix up facts with truth and try to create their interpretation of things or law on the river--there is a lot of that in our area, may try to continue--after three years, to keep river boats from coming.  Well, the public and I love river boats and we're not going anywhere on that.  We're going to dock river boats.  These are great American vessels, about our American Heritage, and I'm an American. It is a passion, a love and respect for the river, and a desire to enjoy as many river boats as possible.  I've told the area USCG and the Army Corps of  Engineers that my company will not do as a few in having their interpretation of the law, I will always ask what the law is with them and follow it with them.  I'm not like those few at all.  Folks in our city will tell you I'm not like one of those few folks.  Interpretation of the law isn't in those few folks hands.  I respect those two agencies with highest regards and don't interpret their laws.  Yes, I'm in business and I have some river boats to get here and let the public enjoy them.   Lets rip the Ohio River Region up.  It will be awesome!! Mary 

Howdy, Folks!!  Fall is finally in the air.  Our area was hit hard with lots of brown crunchy grass, loss of fruit crops and corn.  Don't blame this part of the country for the high prices in corn.  We were hit with breaking heat records right and left.  SO, don't know what color the leaves on the trees will be this fall.  Our fall may not really start til a month from now from the weather.  Either we'll get this year a lot of snow or cold hard temps.

Read your favorite river boat calendar for their yearly Fall cruises and sign up.  You'll see some boats doing different cruises than normal which will add variety to everyone's schedule.  Support them so that they think of coming the following year or rotate their schedules hitting all sorts of cruise options.  The Belle of Cincinnati "River Hop" is anticipated in this part of the Ohio River.  What excitement!!  Hope they get lots of passengers and fill up.  Call BBRiverboats for calendar, cost, and other information.  The Spirit of Jefferson, from Louisville, Ky, is a great sized boat for fall river treks.  Just go to the website of your favorite boats and support them.  These boating companies work hard to provide different opportunities to enjoy their vessels.

Saw on the TV show "NetWorth" a neat Yacht called 'Seafair' that is 285 feet long, has several art galleries aboard from different world companies.  It is spectacular what they do.  Travel the east coast with art pieces and galleries for sale.  Love to have them in Middle America as it would round out what can be done here.  The towns in our region are gearing up to ask in more river boats to join us here in the region.  As more new boat ramps and marinas get redone or added, you'll see more interest here.  More condos by the river are being added everywhere, new shops, new eateries.  We'll look like an east coast area but in Middle America soon.

Well, enjoy the fall weather.  I didn't do too many yards this year with the lawn business, but will next year.  I'm glad from this heat wave that there wasn't much lawns to do....crunchy brown grass in hard dirt.  It was something.  Now, for some color on the trees, whistle some Christmas tunes as I buy Halloween candy.  Now, that is good stuff.  Pass me the sweet potatoes, some turkey stuffing and it is going to be a great day.

Changes are good, we need them, embrace them.  Support your fall cruises coming!!  mary