Howdy, in the southeastern part of Indiana, the southwestern part of Indiana, and western part of Kentucky, there is action for the Delta Queen to visit.  You'll see on the newspaper story to be in Friday's edition of the Evansville Courier and Press newspaper another, yep, another news story of the Delta Queen, where it is in the House Rules Committee, and where in our region it will be.  That Henderson, Ky, has it going on.  Well, so does our Grandview, Indiana, and our distant cousin, Madison, Indiana, near Louisville, Ky. 

The news story can be reached at:  www.evansvillecourierpressonline.com and the story is entitled:  Delta Queen makes 18 stops.  It is a great short story that tells folks how proud we are of a city in our market, just over the bridge of the Ohio River.  We're also proud of Grandview, In, which is right up the river from Evansville, Indiana, and I talked to their Mayor Randy Fisher and he and his town are glowing from the visits of the Delta Queen.  Their folks have a group that makes sure each visit is smooth, what the boat wants, and then some! 

I am plumb proud of how our Ohio River region is celebrating this season of the Delta Queen.  It will be heart warming.  You will see the calendar listed in this article when the Delta Queen will be in Henderson, Ky.  They know how to do it right.  They don't get into anyone's way or cause a stir.  They do their job and that is it.  I'm so proud of them.

Well, hope you check out the story.  It tells about the "Save the Delta Queen Campaign", too.  We're very lucky that our new newspaper editor makes mention of the Delta Queen.  In the past our newspaper folks, many at new assigned jobs or gone, just wasn't into river boats from fear of bucking the LST 325.  I believe that was a mistake and unfair to both boating situations.  A boat is a boat is a boat.  This newspaper editor knows the economic importance of any riverboat visit.  He gets it.

He's smarter than a fifth grader, Jeff Foxworthy. 

Well, hope you check out our addition to the cause.  We Love the Delta Queen and we're gonna' treat her right this season.  I can feel the excitement steaming along.  Toot, toot!!  Mary

Well, Happy Easter!  to everyone.  It is Good Friday and a day to reflect.

Yesterday, our town, Evansville, Indiana, played host to one of the Democratic Presidential hopefuls, Hillary Clinton.  Now, say what you will about the gal, I may feel it too, but she created quite a stir in our town as we became as a state a part of the Primary race delegate importance.  It hasn't been done for forty years, the political pundents say.  So, it was exciting whoever came to our state and of course, our town. 

During Hillary gal's speech, which was by all accounts quite composed, quite relaxed, and speaking more to what was a mixed crowd of parties, affilliations, and such, she spoke to everyone equally and as if you were sitting down having some coffee. (I saw her plane fly in and the motorcade pass by....and waved. I'm not making any political push for any candidate.) Hillary made a comment about our Ohio River and what an asset it was and mentioned she remembers being in Ohio, and was able to see what asset it was to the folks in Cincinnati, Ohio.  She made an impression that this candidate was interested in seeing our Ohio River used more as an asset.  I thought that was great.  You, go, gal.  Anytime that I've had the opportunity to talk or email one of the Bush Administration folks they appreciate the rivers in our country but I'm sure is willing to work with anyone to help make our rivers even more viable.  I want to make that happen for our area of the country as much as I can. 

The past three years, we've had in our area of the Ohio River folks on both sides of the political parties spat at anyone, mainly me, that wanted to go into territory they had no knowledge, no past interest, or didn't know what could be done on the river.  Very uneducated and not willing to think outside the box from lack of economic development interest. If more politicians showed an interest in our rivers it sure would be easier to see more excitement, more commerce trade, and more pleasure cruises happen.  Maybe that is what is happening with the exemption vote concerning the Delta Queen.   Possibly, if more politicians paid more attention to one of our greatest resources, the rivers, and helped put money into river front development, like what Senator Mitch McConnell did for the state of Kentucky, we'd be in far better shape.  Look at Europe.  They love their water fronts and make great use of it.  It is their pride and passion to have tourists love their rivers.

It may be asking much for politicians to take more of an interest in an asset greatly overlooked since cars and trains advanced more.  But, really, in our history steamboats was commerce, was transportation, was the bringing of entertainment to the towns and river fronts.  We should take an interest in our history.  We are about steamboats.  We are about great use of our rivers, we are the ones who steer what happens to our river fronts.  Heck, if Ole' Hillary understood the greatness in having the Ohio River, why can't our folks.  I was impressed by her comment, and saw some hope.  At least one other person is listening a tad more in Washington, D.C., that is a Democrat.

But, the exemption vote has to get to Senate, first.  I believe Lugar and Bayh of Indiana, McConnell of Kentucky all will vote "Yes" to help the Delta Queen, but we have to get past Congress.  Now, there's the challenge.

Have a great Easter and hope you get a lot of Easter eggs in your basket.

Mary

Howdy, y'all, as I was watching the national news two days ago, lo' and behold House rep. James Oberstar was blazing on the television of NBC news about cracking down on Southwest Airlines.  He's the one who evidently has led the looking into how Southwest Airlines was cutting costs in areas all thought the airlines was 'different' than their competitors.  When I saw him on TV, it just made my blood boil why he didn't want to get the vote for the Delta Queen going.  The news reporter's name was a Tony Costello.  I wouldn't know how one gets ahold of those reporters either.  If someone knows, it may help to contact them.

I did email Paul Harvey as someone on the message board suggested.  I hope they got a lot of emails about the "Save the Delta Queen" campaign.

It sure has been quiet about the 13 House Rules Committee and hope that 'quiet' is good news.  I know that our local media has been patient and would love to cover this story...the exemption vote....and, or what the House Rules Committee will allow.  Hope this silent period is folks working behind the scenes to make this US Coast Guard Reauthorization bill amendment work. 

Well, Oberstar is pouncing on a company that is higer profile, I'm sure in his eyes.  So, finding the US Coast Guard Reauthorization bill probably is the best thing for sure coming down the pike.  Hope it works, folks.  Mary

Howdy, golly we've had six, it will be six TUESDAYs in a row that we have thunder storms/tornado wind like conditions/ice storm/snow.  We've first gotten 60 degree weather then two days later it is horrible.  So, this week, we're expecting....or not....does anyone own a weather radar.....the most snow we've had this winter....and we're twenty days from Spring.  UGH.  Get out the hot brownies and coffee and Enjoy.

I read with great interest the super article that Franz wrote about the Delta Queen:  "A public and political affair".  Hope he sends to all of the newspapers that did cover this event.  I'm talking the biggies like the New York Times, LA Times, Chicago Tribune, etc.  Now, is the time to push, again like mad.   The punch has to be prompt and the news articles have to be glaring in their faces.  See what the media says.  Just last week a radio station called me to ask how the exemption vote was going.  Our area is interested.  It helps keep the word out.  Another radio station and our local newspaper emailed me to keep them posted when I found something out on this Exemption vote.  We all want to know.  Like I stated before, contact your town's media, whether a small 200 town newspaper or a 2 million town newspaper, radio, TV.  This is like carrying news about the Statue of Liberty.  This is part of American history. 

My ancestors came to America in 1750 and settled in the Commonwealth of Maryland before moving to Tennessee and settling in Kentucky.  River boats is part of our American heritage, it is part of the apple pie thing.  Hear the flutes piping and the drums beating.  March, two, three, four,  we all are a part of history in this.  Each one of us can stand up and make a difference in some way.  And, before you know it, more and more people know about this issue. 

I know of a guy in Fox national news in California and don't know how to reach him to cover this.  And, one Fox national news gal that also came from here in Evansville, Indiana.  Otherwise, I'd already have contacted them to hopefully cover something.  The guy's parents live here on the East side of town.....but, which parent is his.  The reporter's name is Casey Stegall and her name is Caroline Shively.  You see them on Fox national news.  Casey grew up here and Caroline was at our local station before going national.  If anyone can reach them, Casey for sure knows about river boats here.  He is a jewel.  Great guy.

Well, gotta go and rest up for all of the snow coming this way...or, it may turn into rain.  I doubt it.  We'll have tunnels til spring.  I'll just have to learn to snowboard.  Keep in the fight.  Our area is warming up more to riverboats as the vote gets closer.  Keep in there.  Mary