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July 18, 2005 -- Vol. 5 Issue 29 Written by Jack R. Simpson (unless otherwise noted), owner of J.R. Simpson & Associates, Inc. and contributing editor to The Waterways Journal.
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 In This Newsletter:
Headline Errors
"War Dims Hope for Peace" A Personal Note From Jack
 This has been a strange week. With guests expected by Thursday morning, I was expecting a tough haul, trying to get the newsletter out, ship books, etc.
The biggest news of the day came in the afternoon when Alison and Worth at the National Waterways Conference sent out notices that the House passed the Water Resources Development Act 2005 by a whopping margin. Importantly, congressmen rejected amendments designed to further crimp the work of the Corps. So you can look below in "On The Waterfront" to read all about it. We are using NWC’s own release, so we won’t miss anything. We also have some good letters from readers. Two are appropriate responses to last week’s newsletter article on boat handling. The third dredges up a bit of history related to landing signals. It’s a good read. With loads of other stories on the docket, I will cut this section short and wear your eyeballs out next week. But I will go this far. Not having had a Water Resources Development Act since 2000 and having anemic Corps budgets for civil works for some three decades, this is very big news. Opponents did what they could to throw up obstacles. They failed. Proposed amendments that could hinder Corps activities were rejected. We are a nation with a neglected water transportation system, and I think proponents realized that. For those who might not remember, just last week the Senate has offered more money for water transportation in the appropriations bill than either the House or President wanted. There is no indication that I know of that they will not go along with this bill. I can tell you one thing. If Bush vetoes it, he loses my vote. It is a lot more important than trying to turn the world into one global government. I’m also not particularly happy about his border policy. Newsletter News
Sometimes the cupboard is empty and sometimes it’s full. Sometimes when I write editorials it is a challenge because nothing appropriate seems to come along. That’s just my own shortcoming. But that’s the way it seems. Another odd thing about news is that is frequently breaks at the wrong time for an editor to include it in his current issue. I can’t tell you if the news about the House vote on WRDA broke soon enough for "The Waterways Journal" to get it in this issue; the book is made up during the day Thursdays and is shipped out Thursday night. If they didn’t get it in time it’s a shame, because the WJ has supported the marine industry for 114+ years, and it would be nice to blast this vote cover to cover. Fortunately, we can get it in our B&B and by 4 p.m. we already had it posted on Portals to the Waterways as a July 14 update. There are a good many stories kicking around this week. Far more than we can use at any length. So we will condense what we use and probably hold some over. You will get the salient points, however. For Those Inclined To Pray
 We have modified the steps for joining our Prayer Circle. If you visit the Prayer Circle link on at www.littleriverbooks.com, you will find that those who sign up are completely anonymous. We do not ask for first names nor states of residence. Joining is as simple as providing an email address to which we can send future prayer requests. Each prayer request list includes a link for including requests.
By joining our Prayer Circle, you can tap into the prayerful support of circle members wherever they are. Membership and prayer requests are open to everyone. Advertising
Your classified ad can go in this space for $10 for one week, $20 for two weeks, $25 for three weeks, and $30 for four weeks. For details click here. On The Waterfront
House Approves Crucial Waterway Legislation Washington July 14, 2005- This afternoon the United States House of Representatives approved, by a vote of 406-14, the bipartisan Water Resources Development Act of 2005, H.R. 2864, that authorizes 700 transportation, flood control, hydropower, water supply, beach re-nourishment, environmental restoration and recreation projects and studies. Should all of the projects be funded in future appropriations bills, $10 billion in water resources infrastructure would be built by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. It fixes the "potholes" in the river system, stated Congressman Ray LaHood of Illinois. According to Congr. Jerry Costello of Illinois, there has never been another bill before the House floor that was supported by such a diverse coalition of waterway interests, including labor and business. Copies of letters sent by the National Waterways Alliance in support of the legislation can be found on the web site of the National Waterways Conference, which serves as the group’s secretariat: www.waterways.org. Also accepted was an amendment sponsored by Congrs. Bart Stupak of Michigan, Pete Hoekstra of Michigan and Bill Delahunt of Massachusetts that would allow 293 so-called "lower-use" harbors which handle over 2/3 of the cargo traveling on the waterways of America to be dredged through a change in the performance based-budgeting guidelines. Worth Hager, president of the National Waterways Conference said, "We are thrilled the House of Representatives has so resoundingly affirmed the importance of water resources to the Nation. In addition to authorizing crucial projects, including the modernization of the locks on the Upper Mississippi system, the House has provided a sound and reasonable version of Corps reform which, when coupled with the reforms the Corps of Engineers has already instituted, will do much to ensure that future projects are shielded from unwarranted attacks on their economics." During the debate, a controversial amendment sponsored by Congrs. Earl Blumenauer of Oregon and Jeff Flake of Arizona that had the potential to be detrimental to the improvement and restoration of the 80-year old Upper Mississippi River System was defeated by a vote of 105-315 with 14 non-voting. According to Congr. Marion Berry of Arkansas, passage of WRDA and defeat of the Flake-Blumenauer amendment allows the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to have the ability to "maintain and improve the Nation’s ability to have a water super highway to the world market." Congr. Kenny Hulshof of Missouri echoed Berry’s statements and vigorously laid out the need to modernize the system, citing the loss of 10% of capacity per year due to old age. Both alluded to the fact that one half of the cost of construction and major rehabilitation of the lock projects would be borne by the users of the system through a 20-cents per gallon fuel tax. Also defeated, by a vote of 111-310, was an amendment sponsored by Congr. Dana Rohrbacher of California that would have allowed for fees on import containers for security purposes. The amendment was widely renounced by a number of shipper and port groups for a variety of reasons, including duplication of purposes and the processes required under the amendment. Hager expressed her gratitude and optimism for the bill and its support saying, "In particular, the members of the National Waterways Conference thank Chairmen Don Young and Jimmy Duncan, and the ranking members, Jim Oberstar and Eddie Bernice Johnson, and the former ranking subcommittee member, Jerry Costello, for their efforts to bring forth a truly bi-partisan bill that can be easily conferenced with the Senate bill, should that bill retain its current form." The Senate version of a Water Resources Development Act, S. 728, has already passed the Environment and Public Works Committee and is expected to go to the Senate floor for passage in the near future. "We are looking forward to the Senate now following the lead of the House so that we can finally have a Water Resources Development Act of 2005, thus ending the stalemate that has delayed the regular biennial passage of a WRDA bill," stated Bob Portiss, Chairman of the National Waterways Conference and port director of the Tulsa Port of Catoosa. For more information contact (Ms.) Worth Hager, President, The National Waterways Conference, Inc., 4650 Washington Boulevard, #608, Arlington, VA 22201. Ph: (703) 243-4090, Fax: (703) 243-4155, e-mail: worth@waterways.org. Story Condensations
Trinity To Build 100 Barges To Settle Suit Trinity Industries, Inc., has said it will build 100 hopper barges to settle pending litigation with Marquette Transportation Co. The dispute arose from a lawsuit filed by Marquette, based in Paducah, Ky., alleging defects in the barge-coating materials, application and workmanship supplied by the subsidiary, according to a filing by Trinity with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Marquette sought damages for the 84 hopper barges that were sold at an average price of about $280,000. Mv. Marie Hendrick Reported To Have Burned To The Waterline We have no confirmation, so this is based on one report sent our way. The report said the Mv. Marie Hendrick burned to the waterline in Victoria Bend with 28 in tow Saturday (July 9). We’ve seen no additional reports about this, so keep that in mind. Mel Price Auxiliary Lock Reopens You all know from your "Waterways Journal of July 11" that the Mel Price Auxiliary Lock reopened July 1 after nine months out of operation. Nuf said! Industrial Towing May Return To The Missouri River U.S. Army Corps of Engineers’ public affairs officer John N. LaRandeau passed along on July 14 a note from Dave Reidt that he has made a deal with American River Transportation Company, which he says will provide all the barges he needs for Missouri River Service. Reidt will be doing all of the towing. "I need shipper support to prove to them that everything I have told them about the river is true," said Reidt. (Editor’s note: I missed it earlier, but I am told that the WJ had a piece about this. Let’s wish the man luck. LaRandeau released an estimate earlier that said the value of products expected to be moved on the Missouri in 2005 is more than half a billion dollars. None of it was normal towing. Most was construction materials and plant equipment for large power producers upriver.) Corps Predicts 2005 Tonnage To Hit Value of $549 Million The Corps has released estimates showing that the value of projected tonnage on the Missouri River for 2005 will reach $549 million. As yet, companies have not given permission to release specific figures that would reveal details about them. Long haul commercial tonnage (asphalt and cement) was predicted at 300,000 tons valued at $75 million. Short haul commercial tonnage (sand and gravel) was estimated at 7 million tons valued at $49 million. The movement of power plant equipment to MidAmerican Energy was placed at 8,000 tons, valued at $345 million. Power plant equipment to Callaway Nuclear Power Plant was estimated at 2,000 tons, valued at $80 million. Trinity Industries To Reopen Port Allen Plant As mentioned earlier, Trinity Industries will build 100 barges to settle a pending lawsuit with Marquette Transportation, Paducah, Ky. See previous story. To accomplish this work, the company will reopen its now idle Port Allen, La., plant. The company plans to hire about 150 employees for the project. Corps Looks Into Possibility Of Outsourcing O&M On Locks and Dams WorkBoat.com reports that the Corps of Engineers has submitted a plant to the Office of Management and Budget that calls for opening up 2,000 operations and maintenance jobs through 2008. The U.S. Navy’s tug privatization program save taxpayers $20 million, the editor said. The Corps says it wants to provide the same or improved services at less cost to the taxpayer. Crossing The Bar
Robert A. "Bob" Pollard, 60, of West Union, Ohio, suffered fatal injuries on July 9 while working as a deckhand on the Glenna M. Pollard died after being pinned between two barges. The vessel was working at the Beckjord power plant at between New Palestine and New Richmond, Ohio, moving coal barges to the facility when the accident occurred. He suffered critical chest injuries and was pronounced dead at the seen by medical personnel. Pollard had been a deckhand for the former Ohio River Company for 38 years. At the time of the accident, he was employed as a deckhand with McGinnis, Inc. advertisement
The River School - Deck and engineer licenses, radar observer, tankerman, fire and water safety courses, video programs. Travel classes in convenient locations. (800) 238-7113 www.riverschool.com Recipe Box
If you are a towboat cook, home chef, backyard barbecuer, tailgater, or know anybody who is, please pass the word along to submit recipes! BREAKFAST PIZZA You can use either canned biscuits, crescent rolls, or toasted sliced bread. Place bread in bottom of cake pan (to make crust).  Cook 1 lb. of sausage. When cooled, crumble on top of bread.
In a large bowl mix together: 12 eggs 1/2 bell pepper (chopped) 1 cup or can sliced mushrooms 1/4 cup milk 2 tablespoons of oleo (melted) sliced black olives 1 bag shredded cheddar cheese ( 8 oz) mix well and pour atop of bread and sausage Cover and refrigerate overnight. Bake at 350 until eggs are done (30 min). (You can also add bacon or diced ham.) Submitted by Joyce Cochran-Loyd Retired from W. A. Kernan Boat Photo Center
 We have a big selection for you this week, including a special landing signals picture from Capt. Jeffrey L. Yates. He shares a couple pages from old "Inland River Records."
Boat pictures include four from Barry Griffith: the Frank Haendiges, Marc Miyasaki, Catherine B and John Paul Eckstein; from Craig Nowack: the Raymond Grant Eckstein, Cooperative Vanguard, Cap’t Newt, and Robert Greene; and from Ron Richardson: the Sara C, Larry Y Strain, Dorothy Lee, two of the Craig E. Philip, Donna Rushing. Our Readers Write
Re: Boat Fires (See B&B July 11, 2005) I have been a boater since I was five years old. I am now 78 years old. I rode with my Grandfather down the Mississippi from the old toll bridge at Dubuque Iowa, to his cabin on an island about seven miles downstream. I guess I have been a river rat ever since. As I have mentioned before, I now live on the Tennessee at RDB270. I own four boats -- a 1955 21’-0" Cadillac powered Chris Craft Cobra, a 1956 Hemi powered blue gray Century Arabian, one of only eight that are known to exist, a 26.55 Bay Liner Sunbridge express cruiser, and last but not least, a Boston Whaler outboard. All of my boats with the exception of the Whaler, are equipped with not only bilge blowers, but also fume detectors and automatic fire systems. In my boating lifetime, I have been looking right at five boats when they exploded. and burned. I never cease to be amazed at how many people ignore ventilating the bilge before starting their boats! An inboard boat is a very dangerous thing if not run and maintained properly. If you don’t want to wear your life jackets, at least keep them within arms length. My boats are wired so that if the fire extinguishing system goes off, it also shuts down the blowers so as to keep the fire retardant in the engine compartment. That is it for now. J. P. Corbin Re: Boat Handling (See B&B July 11, 2005) Yes, there are too many recreational boaters unaware of the "need to know" before operating a boat. A water/jet ski is considered a boat and the same rules apply! We are members of the United States Power Squadron, Propeller Club, ASA and Navy League. How many boat dealers are willing to tell a new owner he/she should take a safety course? In this area we have been fortunate to have several dealers more than willing to cooperate. There are too many that are afraid of losing a sale. The Ohio Department of Natural Recourses in both Kentucky and Ohio offer safety courses, as well as the Squadron and the Coast Guard Auxiliary. If owners are unable to attend one organization’s course, they can be put in touch with another group. All groups only charge a small fee, usually just to cover expenses of materials. The instructors are well trained and experienced boaters. Most insurance companies offer discounts to boaters passing the courses. The USPS Public Boating Course has been taught since 1914 and has been rated #1. There are even quick courses offered on-line. However it is recommended to check out the above sites. The exchange with other boaters is very helpful to all. They all have web sites you can check for safety courses in other areas. The USPS national toll free number is 188-367-8777 or on the web www.usps.org. Commercial operators cannot be responsible for foolish or uneducated recreational watercraft operators. They are just doing their job, which should not but does require them to keep watch for idiots, drunks and other foolish boaters! You can be sure they know what they are doing and would come to the aid of any boater, if at all possible.  P/C J. and P/Lt R. Rice Cincinnati Power Squadron Voice line 513 554-BOAT (2628) Editor’s note: The accompanying picture merely illustrates a situation where a recreational craft and barges clashed. Re: Landing Signals (Editor’s note: Landing signals is an interesting subject, but most have never heard them. The following message from Capt. Jeffrey L. Yates came about after he received a query about landing whistles. I thought you’d enjoy it.) This reminds me of an incident that occurred in my youth while growing up along the Ohio River at Henderson, Ky., back in the late fifties when the boats still used their whistles and air horns regularly. Over the years, I developed a long list of pilots who responded to my hand made sign that hung on a tree at the river’s edge, stating "Call me on Ch. 4". I made the letters out of reflective tape that I bought at the local Western Auto store and it stayed on that tree for many years. The pilots used to respond with their names, etc., and mobile phone numbers, and then I’d call them and introduce myself, etc., as I developed many acquaintances and friendships that still survive today, almost fifty years later.  Before long, many of the guys began giving a whistle salute when they approached the house, and I’d run out and wave as they passed. They often used their company’s landing whistle as shown on those pages I sent from the IRR. [see Photo Center] Many were still actual steam whistles on the old DPC [Defense Plant Corporation] boats and several of the steamers of the Valley Line. Many of the newer boats had big four or five trumpet, Kahlenberg air horns that would rattle our windows with their harmonious blast.
Some of those guys could almost play a tune with those whistles and horns as they pulled the chord down to vary the amount of steam or air into the instrument. Some could "quill" those multi trumpet air horns and make the most beautiful sounds I’ll ever remember. Of course all this racket was heard within a mile of our home and the neighbors were certainly not unaware of my entertainment. One crotchety old neighbor asked his wife one time, "What the hell is all that noise going on down there by the Yates’ place?" His wife replied, "That’s just Jeff playing with his boats." To which he retorted, "Why the hell can’t he just play ball like all the other boys in the neighborhood?" And there’s more! Back in the early nineties my wife and I belonged to a boating club in which several members began competing among each other with larger and louder air horns on their cruisers and houseboats. Some even went so far as install regular three and four trumpet Kahlenberg towboat horns, which required a dedicated air compressor to blow. Then David "Pee Wee" Erlbacher of the Cape Girardeau Erlbacher towboat and dry dock clan, built a beautiful brass whistle in his machine shop for installation on his vintage, 53’ Matthews motor yacht. It wasn’t long before he was coerced into making smaller versions for his friends, and before long our pier at Kentucky Dam Marina began to sound like a circus had arrived in town. When as the sun began to set, some of the "dock dogs" who had stayed at the marina all day, drinking beer, decided to serenade everybody by tooting their whistles. Fortunately, Pee Wee made a small air operated whistle for me and I proudly mounted it on our boat near a set of four trumpet Buell air horns. As we were coming back from Nashville one afternoon, we passed old Lock C where soldiers and their families from nearby Fort Campbell often gathered for picnics. As we passed the site, I reached over and pulled the cord on the little whistle as a salute to our military, as my buddy on the flying bridge zeroed in on them with the binoculars. When the whistle tooted, two of the gals promptly raised their shirts and flashed their breasts in return and from that moment on, my buddy and I affectionately referred to that little brass signal device as our "hooter tooter"! Jeff L. Yates Advertisement
I have a 35 mm Nikon F2 in mint condition and lots of other goodies for a combined price of $750. The only lens is a 52 mm Nikormat macro (and extender ring) that allows for shooting relatively normal pictures (no telephoto zoom or wide angle) that allows focusing down to about 2 inches. Other accessories include horsehide camera bag (large boxy type), and various extras too numerous to describe. I will not break up the package. Anyone interested can contact me by calling 314/921-4419 and ask for Jack, or via email at jacksimpson@littleriverbooks.com. Book Beat
Several reminders for this week. We have just received a new but limited supply of Kathy Flippo’s VHS video about the Upper Mississippi River and the Elizabeth Ann, a nearly two-hour VHS video designed to bring back memories for retired pilots who have not held the sticks in their hands for years. It carries a utilitarian title: "Between Locks 14 & 2 on the UMR Aboard The M/v Elizabeth Ann."; The video features Capt. Pat Flippo, trip pilot, also now retired and living with the camera lady, Kathy Flippo in Clinton, Iowa. Kathy is author of the popular books "Beaver Island Remembered", "Back to Beaver Island", "Between The Saints: Louis and Paul" and now the Clinton area book "Between The River and the Rails: South Clinton". The latter is most appropriate now and should become a hot seller because the city of Clinton is attempting to designate the area about which the book is written as a being blighted so that the land can be utilized in a business development plot. Obviously, many residents are less than happy with that turn of events. But back to the VHS tape: The video was taken over an Easter weekend aboard the Elizabeth Ann, built in 1958 by her owner, Missouri Barge Line, at Cape Girardeau. Originally she was a twin screw towboat, but she was rebuilt in 1962. Since then she has been a triple screw with GM 12-645-E2 diesels that were repowered in 1990 to 3,600 hp. She measures 152 by 34 feet and, at the time, carried a crew of 11. Kathy makes no pretense at being a professional photographer. But those who have read her books can attest to the facts that she knows her river and towboats. Years of side-kicking for Capt. Pat have given her a vast knowledge of what makes riverboats and rivermen tick. She has ridden the boats many a year and may even have a few calluses from handling steering levers (the sticks). So we know she taped good stuff, despite being hampered by miserable weather, which, by the way, is frequently what boat crews are exposed to. What we’re saying is that the film is not professionally produced. Nor is it professionally narrated. Kathy says she will not win any awards for video, but if you’re a retired pilot and would like a trip down memory lane, locking and "unlocking" on the Upper Mississippi, this video will do that for you. Kathy stood the after watch (midnight to six and one to six). That meant she was able to tape only in the afternoons. The weather was bad. She never saw any sun. (Just real times.) It rained steadily, hailed, sleeted and snowed. And there was one day of dense, shut-out fog. "One thing you will see," says Kathy "is how long it takes to lock through a 600-foot lock when your tow is 1,170 feet long." Normally it would have been 1,127 feet long, but they were carrying an empty barge on each hip—17 altogether. If you happen to be a neophyte about river things but want to know just how (tough) life on the river can be, this video can do it for you. If you’re looking for a fancy Hollywood production, this won’t! On the other hand, if you’re a retired riverman and have been cooling your heels away from the waterways for a long time, this video does a great job of documenting those time-consuming and challenging trips through the locks on the Upper Mississippi. It will make you feel as though you are actually there. One retired pilot with more than 50 years of experience felt this way about it: "I enjoyed the tape because I am a pilot of many years and have made many trips on towboats over that stretch of the river. "There is a saying about experienced pilots that goes as follows, ’When an experienced pilot comes on watch and lays his hands on the steering levers, he becomes part of the boat and the boat becomes a part of him.’ "River piloting is 90 percent an instinct of feeling the tow and 10 percent knowledge of the river. When I watched ’On board the M/V Elizabeth Ann with Capt. Pat Flippo’ by Cathy Flippo, my piloting instinct kicked in and I could actually feel the tow in it’s movements. "That is mainly why I enjoyed the tape. It brought back memories. "To the viewer, without piloting experience and knowledge of the river, the tape is simply a tale of river life and a travelogue of the Mississippi River between St. Louis and St. Paul." That pilot was Capt. Philip Ritchie, retired and living in St. Petersburg, Fla. Our limited supply of tapes is down to five. So this special offer will be handled via phone or mail only. The price of the video (VHS only) is $15 plus the usual $5 S&H. Also, we will include a f^ee 30-minute video "At the Water’s Edge" (VHS only), which is narrated by Nick Clooney and focuses on the 1999 Tall Stacks celebration at Cincinnati. It includes a presentation by the late John Hartford (and friends), a brief tour of the Delta Queen and Cincinnati riverbank activities, historic footage of 19th Century steamboat races, and more. Also to be included will be a f^ee little Missouri River book called "Grab a Bush", which deals with river myths and tales, told by three elderly river rats. To order by phone (using Visa or MasterCard only) call 314/921-4419 and ask for Jack. To order by mail, send $20 check or money order, payable to Little River Books, to J. R. Simpson & Associates, Inc., 2175 Huntington Dr., Florissant, MO 63033-1227. So if you want to play the memory game and travel once again through those Upper Mississippi River locks, give us a call at 314/921-4419 any time between sunrise and 11 p.m. (CT) Monday through Saturday. — Jack  "Portraits From the Past: Steamboats of the Western Rivers" is moving out rather fast. A rough count gives us maybe three dozen copies left. If you want one, the time is ripe.
This 14- by 8.5-inch book by Neal R. Fink contains 17 drawings of sternwheel and sidewheel steamboats on heavy enamel stock pages, all keyed with registration marks so that the pictures can be removed and framed. Trimmed, the pictures will 
Our Price:
$10.00Receive a FREE copy of the video At The Water's Edge: Majestic Riverboats with each special offer book purchased (while supplies last)! No additional shipping!   Anyone having an interest in "Minneapolis To Mobile" (we ran this a couple weeks ago), now is the time. Our supply is not exactly short, but for some reason, the publisher dropped the retail price to $16.95 from $24.95, enabling us to drop to $16.95 from the $20 we were asking.
144 pages. Soft cover. Nonfiction. Generously illustrated in both b/w and color. This book presents a modern day river adventure by a middle-aged Huck Finn. It is a first-person account documenting the author’s 30-day trip from just outside Minneapolis, Minn., to Mobile, Ala. The author and his crew run their 32-foot Carver over 1,500 miles of water, through the small towns and funky marinas that stretch from Minnesota to the Gulf of Mexico. Whether you’re an armchair traveler or a Mississippi River buff, Tim’s book should please you. It is part travel narrative and part guide book for anyone who plans to duplicate the journey. Our Price: $16.95 Nautical Gift Shop
Steamboat Clock & Barometer - The hinged porthole-style case is solid brass with a lacquered antique finish. It has quartz movement for convenience and accuracy and runs on one AA battery. The matching Steamboat Barometer has visible aneroid barometer movement, and the antique brass case is hinged so that the movement is accessible from the front.280522 Steamboat Quartz Clock $136.49 280722 Steamboat Barometer $146.99  Boat Lamps - Den Haan Rotterdam, founded in Rotterdam, Holland, in 1922, began as a manufacturer of navigation and interior lighting for inland and seagoing vessels. All lamps, many of them replicas of old models, are hand made to commercial ship standards. Each lamp is made of solid brass with a polished and lacquered finish, giving it distinctive style and quality. Their lasting beauty and timeless design will enhance the decor of any home or ship’s cabin.8412E Bi-Color Light $214.00  7x28 Apache Binoculars - After the Gulf War, the U.S. Army decided that it wanted more "eyes" on the battlefield. The Army developed a specification called the "M-24" which was designed to  be a compact binocular that would fit in the pocket of a battle dress uniform (BDU) and be as rugged, have the same magnification, and nearly equal the optical performances of the bigger binoculars. The 7x28 Apache is built to the same tough standards as the M24 binoculars. The new M24 is the first "pocket-sized" military binocular ever issued on a large scale. The optional reticle (left view side) allows for easy range or distance estimation.BN29 7x28 Apache Military Binoculars with Reticle $339.99 Tow Talkin'
July 18, 2005  Hooo man is it hot! I just can’t tolerate this 90/90 heat and humidity. And there isn’t a breeze to be seen. And, not only is it hot, humidity doesn’t count as precipitation. We are now 11 inches short in my neck of the woods. So what does this have to do with the river? No rain, no water, that’s what. All the little feeder creeks and rivers that eventually pour their waters into the Mississippi are beginning to have problems keeping enough water in them to support their minnow population. The Mississippi is falling all the way up. In the last three weeks, it’s gone down three feet here. To continue reading, click here.
See you on the Web, Jack Little River Books jacksimpson@littleriverbooks.com Don't forget to visit our website! |
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