In the April 2008 issue of

River Hills Traveler

More than 11 inches of rain fell in one day in some parts of Traveler Country in late March, pushing the Meramec, Jacks Fork, Current, Black and other rivers out of their banks and flooding homes, businesses, campgrounds and highways. Traveler's April issue includes photos of the flood from Big Spring and Pacific, and reports from outfitters around the territory who are cleaning up the mess and getting on with business.

Writer Bill Cooper has faith that skies will clear and weather will return to that typical for April. Cooper recommends three southeast Missouri destinations to April anglers — the Jacks Fork for smallmouth, Lake Wappapello for crappie and bass, and Duck Creek Conservation Area for bluegill. Bill also has a story on danger in the turkey woods, detailing how unethical hunters imperil both humans and wildlife.

Wildlife artist and fishing expert Al Agnew was featured speaker at the Missouri Smallmouth Alliance's annual banquet last month. Editor and Publisher Emery Styron tells what Al told the SMA members about catching smallmouth. "Juggle the variables," was the theme of Agnew's talk.

We are choking our children's creativity and imaginations with technology and canned information, writes Charlie Slovensky. It's time to "think outside the X-box" and get the kids outside to learn and play, says Charlie.

Turkeys, morels and white bass are hot for April writes Bob Todd in his "The Seasons" column. Turkey season runs April 21 to May 11, with youth season April 12-13. Bob also writes of a hike up Lindsey Mountain in Iron County. Tim Huffman also weighs in on hiking with a story on the Ozark Trail, which covers some 500 miles in Missouri and northern Arkansas. He also mentions two other good hikes, one near Big Spring and the other at Mingo Refuge.

An ugly wild turkey dubbed Lonesome Dove by Jim and Donna Featherston overcomes rejections to win her rightful place in the flock. Bob Lewis reacquaints us with Henry Ward Schoolcraft, whose journals from his 1818-1819 exploration of the Ozarks brought our region into the awareness of the civilized world.

Orienteering, writes Steve Roth, is a sport that tests your navigational skills in the woods. It can be enjoyed by the whole family and regardless of age. Our resident rockhound Jo Shaper interviews Roy Hurlburt, board member of the St. Louis Gem and Mineral Society and proprietor of Roy Hurlburt Minerals. Southeast Missouri contains the most diverse assortment of rock specimens in the state, Hurlburt says. Schaper also recounts the history of Meramec Cavers, formerly known as Saltpeter Cave, which is celebrating its 75th anniversary as an Ozarks landmark and tourist magnet this year.

Sherrer's Grocery, located between Greenville and Cherokee Pass on U.S. 67, has been a traditional stop for vacationing families, travelers and outdoors enthusiasts since 1947. Co-owner Ron Foster tells Emery Styron there are no plans to change a successful recipe.

Howard Helgenberg waxes eloquent in praise of his Puma Corporal pocket knife, a tool he recommends as a gift for a beginning outdoorsperson. Rudi Rudroff hikes and wonders if his son will love the outdoors like his father. Kathleen Brotherton reminds us that the hiking, hunting and canoeing we do for fun was a matter of survival for Native Americans. Pat Todd rounds out our editorial package with some new, delicious ways to cook those tough old gobblers.

The April issue also includes travel maps for the Upper and Lower Current, Jacks Fork and Meramec Rivers, Clearwater and Wappapello Lakes and the Parkland region.

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