River Hills Traveler
Outdoor Season Kickoff Issue
Here's a complete summary of articles in the May 2010 print issue of Traveler:
Johnson Shut-Ins grand reopening set
May 22 will mark the official grand reopening of the Johnson Shut-Ins State Park near Lesterville, ending years of waiting by Missouri residents. The park was heavily damaged by the December 2005 Taum Sauk dam collapse and re-emerges with a new visitor center, a relocated campground and a vastly changed landscape.
SE Missouri crappie play favorites — Bob Todd
Why do crappie bite for some people but not for others, Bob wonders, recalling that his mother had the same problem fishing for crappie on Wappapello Lake years ago. Fishing buddy Dale Kipp put six in the live well for every one of Bob's this April.
White nose bat fungus reaches Missouri — Jo Schaper
A single case of white nose syndrome in a little brown bat in a privately owned cave in Pike County was enough to have the Missouri Conservation Department put 290 caves on its properties off limits to the public. The idea is to limit the spread of the fungus..
Remembering Mother Nature's real bad day — Paul Hagey
On Mother's Day, May 8, 2009, a large storm rolled eastward from Kansas through southern Missouri, leaving destruction in its path. The directional wind storm, known as a derecho, spawned 18 tornoadoes, left three people dead and devastated 113,000 acres of Ozarks timber. The effects will be felt for years to come.
Traveler editorials: NPS right to limit vehicular access, Johnson Shut-Ins State Park grand reopening something to celebrate
Traveler Mailbag: Reader says Chain of Rocks no natural wonder; writers Don Corrigan and Jo Schaper respond
There's a reason they call them live preservers — Darrell Taylor
Of 2,925 boaters who drowned from 2002 to 2007, 2,560 weren't wearing lifejackets. Darrell gives other reasons why this basic safety measure makes sense..
Whitewater rafting: Assisted suicide on a budget — Charlie Slovensky
Charlie lost his Traveler cap and his dignity on a wild raft ride down an Appalachian river, but he came home with pictures of himself hanging on by his t
oes and a tale of the legendary guide, Pappy.
Learning runs two ways when Alexis, grandpa take to woods, waters — Bill Cooper
How can you not laugh and adjust your idea of what the turkey hunting experience is all about when you see pink pajamas sticking out from under camoflauge pants? Taking 12-year-old Alexis along put turkey hunting in a whole new light.
Get more out of hiking with functional fitness — Jeremy Koerber
You can't help but want to lace up the hiking boots and hit the trail on these gorgeous spring days. Jeremy has commonsense advice for getting your body ready for hiking, especially if you plan on toting a backpack.
Riverways road closings a thorny issue — Donald Dodd
Salem News publisher Dodd explores the history and current status of limits on vehicular access to points throughout the Ozark National Scenic Riverways, as the National Park Service advances plans to close 50 unauthorized trails and traces to motorized traffic.
How Indians built canoes — Kathleen Brotherton
We all have mental images of Indians paddling the rivers in their bark-covered canoes. Kathleen's research reveals the process Native Americans went through to build their watercraft.
Riverways employees recognized for service
Chief ranger Greg Moss and chief of resource managment James Price were recently recognized for their years of service to the Ozark National Scenic Riverways.
Nature's Corner: Crawdads deserve our respect — Aaron Horrell
For his money, says Aaron, the best use of a crawdad is to put a hook through its tail and offer it to a big catfish.
Missourians do well in NWTF calling, call-making competition
Three Missourians were among the winners ranks of game call makers and game callers in competition at this year's National Wild Turkey Federation Convention and Sports Show in Nashville.
Sharing know-how a satisfying part of trout fishing — Howard Helgenberg
Howard quickly caught his limit at Maramac Spring on a morning the stream had been stocked before rain scared off the crowd of anglers. His bonus that day was the chance to show a beginning fisherman some techniques that helped him land his first trout.
Rock Talk: Old iron furnaces refine geology, history — Jo Schaper
Leonard Butts is intrigued by the almost forgotten mining operations in his "backyard." The history and geology hobbyist has located seven major furnaces in east central Missouri related to one-time iron, lead and copper/iron production.
No foolin', wild gooseberries are a Missouri treasure — Josephine Cozean Styron
Jody recalls Maud Hopkins' gooseberry cobblers at her log cabin cafe in Farmington and gives her mother's recipe for Gooseberry Fool.
The Iron Kettle: Tired of fried turkey? Try turkey potato pancakes — Pat Todd
Thanks to a couple of readers, Pat shares alternative ways to prepare and serve the gobblers you shot this turkey season.
Ozark families defeated by 1930s dust storms — Jim and Donna Featherston
Dust storms were the final straw that broke the spirit of kin, friends and neighbors who had survived the droughts and hard times of the early 1930s. They lit out for Illinois, Iowa, California and other parts and hill farms in Ripley County went on the market for whatever was offered. The U.S. Forest Service bought many abandoned homesteads, from which valuable, sustainable timber harvests come today.
Seasons: Stream bass season opens a week before Memorial Day — Bob Todd
Stream bass season opens May 22, a week before Memorial Day this year. There's a lot of other stuff to do once the weather gets warm enough to get in the water.
Young hunters bag 3,045 turkeys; Frnaklin top county with 133 birds — MDC news release.
Ideal hunting conditions helped boost the youth season turkey harvest by 37% over last year.
Through the Years in Traveler: Canoe numbers, licenses subject of Ozark Riverways lawsuit 25 years ago
How many commercial canoes and who would hold those slots was the subject of a lawsuit, Traveler reported in May 1985.
10th annual Old Tyme Festival slated at Markham Spring
The Williamsville Area Progress Committee's Old Tyme Festival, featuring food, music, games, antique tractors and an antique cannon firing , is slated for Saturday June 5 at the Markham Spring Recreation Area.
Travel maps in this issue: Big Piney & Gasconade, Clearwater Lake, Lower Current and Eleven Point, Lower Meramec, Niangua & Bennett Spring, Parkland Region, Upper Current and Jack's Fork, Upper Meramac, Huzzah and Courtois and Wappapello Lake.
