 In the July 2011 issue of
River Hills Traveler
Black River-Arcadia Valley Edition
On the cover & Page 1
Cover Image"Fourth on the Meramec" by Steve Roth
How will you celebrate Independence Day? You can’t do much better than Charlie Roth and his canoe, shown here on the Meramec above Onondaga last year’s July 4 weekend. Steve Roth, New Haven, shot the photo of his son, then 6.
Current, Jacks Fork in peril? — Jo Schaper
On May 17, the national environmental group American Rivers held a press conference in St. Louis to announce the addition of the Current and Jacks Fork rivers to its annual list of most endangered watersheds. Traveler got comments from the Ozark National Scenic Riverways, Missouri Department of Natural Resources and outfitter Shane Van Steenis for a balanced report on this story.
Initial coverage of the press conference
Transcript of Q&A with DNR's Renee Bungert
See Traveler's e-Edition for the full report including comments from American Rivers, OSNR, DNR and outfitters Van Steenis and Jack Peters.
Jack Peters: Upper Current better than in '67 — Barbara Gibbs Ostmann
One of the best parts of an Ozarks float trip is having a chance to interact with the locals, the people who live and work in that neck of the woods. One of the most colorful characters is Jack Peters, a fixture on the upper Current River since the late 1960s. Peters, who came to the Ozarks as a ranger for the Upper Current District of the ONSR in 1967, has operated Running River Canoe Rental with his wife, Lois, since 1979. He shares his thoughts on changes on the river during his tenure.
When hidden things awaken — Tim Harrison
All the world was falling into shadows. It was six o’clock in the evening and Bart wasn’t packing any camping gear, just boat cushions, pickle buckets and an old steel-sided cooler. Floating the Meramec by moonlight is an almost magical experience.
The rest of the paper
Electronic Traveler offers readers additional options— Emery Styron
There's a new way to read Traveler, available to print subscribers free. Each issue can now be viewed online at www.rhetraveler.com in exactly the same format as in print. Read this entire story online
Mingo Swamp Photo Contest deadline extended after floods close wildlife refuge
The Mingo Swamp Photo Contest deadline for entries has been moved forward to Aug. 1. This has been done to give photographers a better chance to capture those elusive images on Mingo Refuge. The Refuge has had a rough time this spring with record flooding and subsequent "Refuge Closed" signs keeping visitors off the Refuge for most of the spring.
Key figures in U.S. history met at Cape’s Ft. D — Jo Schaper
If it hadn’t been for a chance meeting between an adventurous and overly educated Illinois  schoolteacher who signed up with the 20th Illinois Volunteers, and a scruffy farmer turned tannery clerk who failed at every job he tried save soldier, the exploration of the American West, and the mission of the U.S. Geological Survey (the teacher later became the Survey’s second director, and altered its basic mission) might have turned out quite differently.
Captain John Wesley Powell, leader of Battery “F” of the 2nd Illinois Light Artillery, met Brigadier General Ulysses S. Grant during Powell’s construction of Ft. D, in August 1861.
Swirling waters reshape rivers every winter, spring — Bob Todd
One of the fun things we do is check out what changes have taken place on our favorite stream sections over each winter and spring. This year, the check-out has been late in coming and the changes upriver from Van Buren and at Powder Mill are not yet fully revealed.
Makin' Tracks: Photos say it best — Emery Styron
When it comes to showing the beauty and outdoor treasures of Iron and Reynolds counties, words don’t suffice. Ron Kruger's photo essay on the Black River and Arcadia Valley is the centerpiece of the July issue.
Traveler editorial: ‘Most endangered’ is a stretch — Emery Styron
Traveler opines that the Ozark National Scenic Riverways has serious issues but doesn't belong on a national list of 10 most endangered rivers. Read our editorial online
Editor's Mailbag: Right people took action
Pat Holmes of St. Louis writes to thank Traveler for our story on closure of Marble Creek Campground. Holmes believes the right people saw the story, which led to the campground staying open.
Cicadas & Owls — Jim and Donna Featherston
Jimmy Feathers, a.k.a. Jim Featherston, waxes poetic on the subject of noisy cicadas, which created a feast for owls. Illustrations by Terry McBee.
Food plot magic — Bill Cooper
The idea of planting food plots to attract and hold deer and other wildlife has swept across the nation like an out of control wildfire. Cooper explains why food plots have been so successful for deer hunters.
Wappapello beaver wisdom: Know when to say when — Jim and Donna Featherston
If I was a Wappapello Lake beaver, with his beaver wisdom, I would petition the creator of aquatic quadrupeds: "Lead me not into the temptation to mess around with an electric generating turbine in a Army Corps of Engineers dam." Jim also interviews Tommy Knodell, Poplar Bluff, on his memories of growing up on the construction site of Wappapello Dam in the 1940s.
Wappapello getting ready for July 4 weekend — Emery Styron
Corps of Engineers crews and Wappapello State Park personnel have been working steadliy to get facilities back open after record high water wreaked havoc on the lake in May. Quotes from Project Manager Cindy Jackson and Wappapello State Park Supt. Wanda Doolen.
Tagging project a team effort — Bob Todd
Bob ran across MDC fisheries biologist John Ackerson on the Current River. Ackerson was tagging smallmouth bass for a study on fishing pressure. Bob explains how it works.
Campers, hikers: Be bear aware — MDC news release
He’s a heavyweight from northern Arkansas. He’s dark and mysterious. He’ll eat just about anything, and he’s being seen more and more around the Show-Me State. His name is Ursus americanus, but you probably know him better as the black bear. MDC offers tips for dealing with bears when you encounter them. Read this story online
Rock Talk: Geode are one of the few rocks it’s socially acceptable to show off in your house — Jo Schaper
They’re round and hollow, with a rough, and often moderately ugly outside, looking like rock cauliflower, indented with furrows like a petrified brain, or sometimes, criss-crossed with a delicate latticework. The smallest is about the size of a fingertip, the largest, large enough to walk inside. They are common and unique at the same time. Like some people, they hide their treasures; inside it takes an experienced touch (and some tool between a tack and sledge hammer) to reveal the fistful of crystals inside. They are geodes.
Mammoth Memorial weekend on Spring River
— Howard Helgenberg
My first hint that this might not be the best place to fish over the Memorial Day weekend was when the first truckload of canoes arrived and was unloaded and neatly stacked along the bank. And then another truck, loaded with rafts showed up. And then kayaks. Wow! I couldn’t believe the scene that was unfolding right in front of me. Unfortunately, the trout didn’t bother to stick around.
The Seasons: Hot weather fishing is now, hunting is mostly in fall — Bob Todd
Nothing changes this month in the way of hunting and fishing season regulations. So this may be a good time to consider some changes coming down the pike.  Next year you'll be able to use a variety of weapons in muzzleloader deer season, for example.
Squirrels that couldn’t fly, but thought they’d try — Charlie Slovensky
A gray squirrel can jump from the end of a drooping branch to the next tree, leaping several times his body length and seldom missing a safe landing on the other side. The key word is seldom. I’ve witnessed a few jumps where the bushytail should have been working with a net.
Traveler Calendar
There's always plenty to do in Traveler Country from a cave dedication in Perryville to nature women going frog gigging in Cape to re-enactment of the Battle of Wentzville. Read the calendar online
The Iron Kettle: Hardtack, johnny cake, sauerkraut...Be glad you don't eat like a Civil War soldier — Pat Todd
Think about pictures, stories you have read or been told, about the Civil War. Pretty terrible stuff! The conditions under which the soldiers had to live, the lack of supplies were the least of their worries. The lack of food can’t keep an army on its feet for long! We’ve been researching food during the Civil War period, and what we have found is very depressing. I’m sure you have heard of hardtack, maybe johnny cake and even salt pork and dry beans. But sauerkraut was a surprise to me.
Through the Years in Traveler: 25 years ago...Bounty system begun in 1821 ends its run
July 1986 brought news of the end of the bounty system to Traveler readers. Bounties were paid for coyote and bobcat pelts (and for other nuisance animals over 160 years) beginning with statehood in 1821. The most the state paid out was $128, 094.50 in one year. Read this story online
Uncle Fred's snake panic sinks S.S. Disaster to bottom of Castor—Shawn Seabaugh
What made my mother think it would be nice to invite my her brother and his family out to one of our weekends on the Castor, I will never know. Uncle Fred was not interested in swimming or helping the kids to catch tadpoles and crawfish. He simply wanted to pack a few coolers and take a lazy canoe trip down the river. When a snake dropped into the canoe from an overhanging tree limb, all hell broke loose.
Feathered friends have long been revered — Kathleen Brotherton
Our Indian forefathers found their feathered-friends possessed special qualities and two were especially revered: the mallard duck and pileated woodpecker. The skin of the neck and breast of the mallard was put upon the peace pipes of the Osage, Omaha and Pawnee tribes, while the red on the woodpeckers’ heads symbolized persistency and perseverance.
Tips for nabbing Mr. Whiskers, a.k.a catfish — Tim Huffman
From bank fishing to running trotlines, limblines and jugs from a boat, angling for catfish is a favorite activity in this part of the Ozarks.
Nature's Corner: Barn swallow, king of fast food, eats, drinks, bathes in flight — Aaron Horrell
The barn swallow is one of North America's most common and easily recognized birds. Not more than seven inches long as an adult, this little bird has energy that seems to have no bounds.
Click this Back Issues link to see summaries of Traveler by month, from November 2003 to present. Print copies of back issues are available for up to one year after publication for $5 per copy. Electronic access to our archives from December 2010-January 2011 is available. For access, visit rhetraveler.com or call 800-874-8423, ext. 2 to order.
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