1998 Archive

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Mark Charlotte Brown		31/Dec/1998:01:28:57
Life is great on the river
HENRY C PERAZA		30/Dec/1998:15:12:24
From COLOMBIA, Sur AmÈrica. Will return later. SEASONS GREETINGS.
Captain G.A.Howell J		29/Dec/1998:19:20:06
I have seen the RED ROCKET often and already knew the truth!!!!!!
Glenn Chancellor		28/Dec/1998:22:51:14
Nice page. I spend a lot time around the Ohio river in the alzey bottoms which is across from Mt Vernon Ind on the Ky side. Give us a wave when you pass by.
steve howell		28/Dec/1998:03:50:04
steve howell		28/Dec/1998:03:48:21
G.Howell sr.		27/Dec/1998:20:00:19
I started off in 1968 it's hard to shake come to think of it I've never had the desire to. you've done a fine job with your presentation of the profession thnx
Thomas Pilson		27/Dec/1998:13:31:26
Joe H. Hawkins		25/Dec/1998:15:38:26
Nice website. Good luck with your studies.
Richard G. Huebner		20/Dec/1998:14:14:48
Enjoyed reading about your life on the Mississippi . Always wanted to work on the river but went to work on the railroad instead it gets into your blood too it must have because I did it for 41 years. Was wondering if you were aquainted with anybody that worked for Norman Bros. Towing at Alton, IL.they are good friends of mine. I will keep a watch on your site for updates
Bill Withers		19/Dec/1998:23:55:13
My compliments to your web site. I am particularly appreciative of the recognition you've given to The Sabine Towing -&- Transportation Co. My name is Bill Withers and it was my privilege to manage Sabine's inland barge business beginning in 1984.. My deep philosophical differences with the senior management of KIRBY CORP. (Sabine' final corporate owner) earned me a spot in their "doghouse", and I was relieved of that position in 1994. During that 10 years, I was proud to be part of "The Diamond-S" fleet...particularly proud to be associated with its core group of vessel employees whose competence, loyalty, and fidelity to duty provided a reputation in the markets we served that was second to none. To those of you in that group (and you know who you are) I think of y'all often and hope all is well. After my inland barge tenure, I transferred to Sabine's shipping group and had the unhappy duty of locking the doors on Friday, March 10, 1998 when the company's Port Arthur assets were sold. It was a sad day for me
farmer hughes		19/Dec/1998:20:44:13
Sylvia Simms		19/Dec/1998:14:50:37
We would like to take a trip down the Mississippi. Could you give me any information or maps or tell me what I need to know to get the ball rolling. Thanks for your help. sylvia
Bob Carlson		17/Dec/1998:23:27:24
Born and raised near the Mighty Missouri, wish we had more tows coming through here. I listen to them some times on the scanner. I am a fire dispatcher here in Kansas City Mo. Spent a tour of duty in the Navy as a radio man. If I had to do it over again. I would have tried to work on the river as a young man, and worked up to get my masters license. Love the river. If you are ever coming through KC on a tow send me some E-mail. We will show you around or wave as you pass through. BOB
Dale Diller		17/Dec/1998:23:24:53
I am a recreational boater. I have a 30' houseboat. I live on the houseboat 3 days a week tied up to an island just above the power lines at mile 224 UMR. During favorable weather of course. I am fascinated by the tows and try to log the ones I see, which way they are headed and how many barges, empty and loaded. My boat is the No Ka Oi. Dale Diller
Jeff Speck		17/Dec/1998:14:37:12
really enjoyed your site.ive been looking for something like this a long time.i am a steersman for coastal towing inc.
Capt. Tom Wood		16/Dec/1998:21:37:52
I work as a Mate on the Par.A.Dice Casino in Peoria, say hi if you come through Looks like you have some good pics here, keep it up. I like reminiscing with them, I haven't seen the lower in 11 years.
Dave Robinson		15/Dec/1998:10:10:28
Hello again David. I signed your guestbook yesterday, but I took a little more time today to look over your web pages.Young man you are doing a gret job. It is easy to understand, even for people that have never been near a towboat. As I said before, Ihave worked on the river for over 24 years.I live in Evansville,Indiana. I work as a trip pilot for various companies. You keep up the good work. May be lucky enough to meet you someday. Capt. Dave Robinson
Dave Robinson	N/A	14/Dec/1998:17:15:20
Dave, I am currently working as a trip pilot for Coastal Towing and a few oher companies on the Ohio,Tennessee,and Lower Rivers. Love the river -&- the people who work it!! You have a great web site.......KEEP UP THE GOOD WORK!!! Merry Xmas to you and your crew skipper. Capt. Dave Robinson
George A Nock		11/Dec/1998:09:58:04
Live in Pittsburgh PA on the upper Ohio Lots of shots of all size of boats from mile 0 to the Emsworth lock and dam
Carson Millican		07/Dec/1998:16:35:39
I am currently on the M/V DAYTONA.....Capt. is VIC BODDEN... THANKS FOR THE INSIGHT....
Carl D. Hulin		02/Dec/1998:07:27:05
Just loved the web pages. Sabine Towing was a major customer of ours, and what a great company. David has wrote some fine articules on the marine waterways.. Carl at Alfords Supermarket, Port Arthur, Texas
Tom Meier		28/Nov/1998:14:55:12
David: A fine job on your website. Its a very inspiring account that makes me want to quit my desk job and go towboatin'!! The pictures are great. I enjoy fishing and boating on the river, and have lived on the Tennesse here in Decatur, AL, and on the Mississippi in Vicksburg. I am hoping to ride one of the Delta Queen Steamboats next year. They makes stops here in Decatur, AL every now and then. Barge traffic here on the Tennessee (pool 4) is fairly heavy, with boats like Kenova, R.H. Baker, T.R. Vorholt, the Bearcat, et. al. I am sometimes overwhelmed by the wake you guys leave when running fast. Its enough to capsize a guy! Anyway, read about an old Decatur river boat captain, Simp McGee here. Its a good river tale.. http://www.decatural.com/folklore/simp.html Thanks again for sharing your experiences with all of us. Best of luck to you! Tom
andrew lind nelson		24/Nov/1998:14:57:32
Hey david just thought i would take a look, i am planning to canoe down the mighty miss from minnesotal to louisiana in the spring. i study architecture at the university of minnesota, in any case i always lament over the loss of frontier, no more room for cowboys, sailors, railroad builders, pioneers of all sorts etc, etc... in anycase i was delighted to see that there is still some oportunity for unique hardworking men, who possess the increasingly uncommon traits of integrity and a solid handshake. drop me a note, i would be curious to ask you some questions... i especially enjoyed the longfellow poem. you might like to look up the song of hiawatha by him, it is one of my favorites and inspired by minnehaha falls right here in my neighborhood (minneapolis) you gotta give me some feedback on my ideas for a trip down the river so drop me a line nels1707@tc.umn.edu
andre		23/Nov/1998:17:35:07
You're a luky one a lot of people dream about having the opportunity of spending alot of time on the river on such greate tug despite the hard work. make more pictures more boats that you encounter and those beautiful vuews off missisippi river? see ya
Bill Marett		21/Nov/1998:20:11:05
William Barkley		20/Nov/1998:23:58:33
I feel as though I am back on the river again. THANKS!! I miss my years as a tankerman. Hard work, but those whom I worked with were honest and true. M/V Exxon Nashville M/V Exxon Mobile M/V Exxon Texas Currently working on the (M/V) Microsoft in Redmond, Washington. Not quite the same as working on that majestic river.
HARRY SCOTT		19/Nov/1998:22:29:48
C. VanVooren		15/Nov/1998:11:46:58
Great web pages. Enjoyed a vicarious thrill going thru your adventures. Get a good education and someday you may be the Jim Guidry who helps others. Who knows, you may even revive your old company flag. Goog luck in your endeavors. Col. C. VanVooren USAF Ret.
W Lynn Crabbe		15/Nov/1998:09:18:21
As a little kid, I remember (vaguely) seeing a sternwheel tow from the front yard of my grandfathers house ( 100 feet up and 300 yards back from the Ohio at Ripley, OH). I was born at Maysville, KY, and have loved the river all my life. My wife and I are hopeing to retire to a houseboat on the Tennessee in a couple of years.
Ruth Baize		12/Nov/1998:22:23:32
I am a fourth grade teacher in Evansville, Indiana, who just happened to get her Masters at Texas Christian University in your home state. My school is less than a mile from the Ohio River. I found your great site while researching for a unit I want to teach on the river...riverboats...cities on the river...etc. Did you get up this far? My family owns Slim Island below Mt. Vernon, so I am familar with the barges. My father, now 76, has always wanted to travel on a pusher. He produced hybrid seed corn in the river bottoms of Vanderburgh County in southern Indiana..."Zimmerman Hybrids". Do you know any barge that would take him on a trip? Wouldn't that make his day?! I just wanted to tell you that you write well(and that's coming from a teacher) and that I read all your pages...nope, didn't miss any of it! Very interesting. If you are ever in the area during the school months of August through May, please come see my class of city kids...I love giving them experiences
Allen Dale		12/Nov/1998:21:27:08
I enjoyed your story I used to be the calliope player on the Str:Julia Belle Swain,Belle of Louisville,Delta Queen,Mississipi Queen,And American Queen as a volunteer. I too am close friends with Doc Hawley who once wqs MASTER of the Natchez! I played the calliope for him in june 1995 on board the Natchez while awaiting the arrival of the Brand new Str: American Queen!!What a glorious boat!!please send any pics of the queens,and Natchez you might have. i am enclosing a pic of the beloved Belle and delta Queen. sincerely,allen dale.
Dean Morris		12/Nov/1998:18:07:39
Enjoyed your site greatly. I'm a boatman myself and have been for 10 years. I'm a Chief Engineer for R -&- W Marine, a Div. of Midland. One thing your site is kind of lacking is more river and boat photos. I have alot to share if you would like. Thank you for an enjoyable web site............Dean -&- Laura Morris
T. l. CHRISTMAN		10/Nov/1998:11:28:58
Enjoyed your site. My husband has worked on river tows and ocean tugs for 25 years.Looking forward to seeing more pages.
Shannon Altazan		09/Nov/1998:21:05:34
Fantastic Page!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!. I used to work for one of the other Kirby Companies myself. I rode deckhand on the M/V City of Greenville for Old Man River between Baton Rouge and Louisville Kentucky. It was the best job I ever had. Again, Great Page!!!!!!!!!!!!11
Laura Adams		09/Nov/1998:16:39:55
howdy
Tommy S		03/Nov/1998:12:11:59
Frank Greasy Hende		02/Nov/1998:16:17:44
I just had to add my two cents when I found this web presentation. Talk about nostalgia! I was an oiler for only about 6 months on the Mississippi and Illinois Rivers back in the summer and fall of '52 and grew up in a river town in Missouri [Louisiana, MO]. Once that experience gets into your blood, you'll never lose it. Great site and you'll bet I'll be visiting it often. They've got the Erie Canal up here in Central New York but there's nothing to compare with the Mississippi. Just call me "Greasy". That's pronounced with a 'z'.
tee		01/Nov/1998:22:01:33
Capt. Steven M. Grig		01/Nov/1998:13:43:57
Enjoyed your site, I was raised on the river and have seen your boat pass, next time you pass Mile 785 LMR Osceola give me a call on the M/V Tommy Ross. Capt.Steven M. Griggs
CHRIS WITZIG		30/Oct/1998:03:37:18
I used to work for lewis and clark marine on the mississippi. It was a definite experience. I would consider giving it another try. Do you have any suggestions? Any references? I would really appreciate any input you should have. Thank You For Your Time, Sincerely, Chris Witzig
Capt.Ralph Gaffin		26/Oct/1998:20:15:36
Enjoyed your web site very much. I work for Western Kentuky Navigation.I'VE been working on the river for ten years. Capt.Ralph Gaffin
Mrs. Hand's first gr		26/Oct/1998:16:03:37
We enjoyed seeing your pictures of your life on the Mississippi. We are learning about rivers this week. Thank you for showing us your pictures. Sometime we would like to see the inside of your towboat. What it is like to live on the boat, what kinds of meals you have, and more about your life there. Your friends Mrs. Hand's First grade class Smithton, Illinois
edward schmidt		25/Oct/1998:18:45:13
really enjoyed your page,hope to see more in the future.i understand what draws you back to the river.we have a small river where i live called the neosho or grand river,i have spent most of my life on it.thanks
STEVEN BROWN		25/Oct/1998:10:38:28
Perry Moore		17/Oct/1998:21:29:30
Super site! I work part time on river as a harbor pilot just because I love the river and its people. Thanks for a great site! Perry Moore
Louis and Susan Cros		15/Oct/1998:07:59:07
We enjoyed looking at you website. Thank you.
Rico Grande		09/Oct/1998:09:36:32
Hey !!!!! Really really ...... nice. I worked for Cenac,in Houma in "73" and broke in there and at Chotin. I've always like the Sabine boats.They are sharpe ! I later came to Ca. docking Ships and working for Foss. Sure do miss the Old Man River. I now own 2 companies on the west coast , visit us on the web !
JNIGHTHAWK	WELCOME TO JACK HAWKINS, SR. WEBSITE	08/Oct/1998:20:21:02
I truly enjoyed your website, I visited Lock and Dam #21 here in Quincy, Illinois when ever I get the chance. I built a scale model of M/V MISSISSIPPI towboat. Keep up the good work!!
louise Driggers		08/Oct/1998:18:58:04
I cooked for my husband for a number of years on the upper and lower miss.....he now works for artco as a capt. on the m/v coop enterprise....i really like the site....sent it to our grandchildren....they have never seen a towboat from this vantage.......thank you so much.....
CAPTAIN JOE MOSELEY		08/Oct/1998:14:07:30
YOU HAVE DONE A WONDERFUL JOB NOT ONLY AS A RIVERMAN BUT AS A WEBMASTER ALSO. PONCHO KEEP UP THE GOOD WORK AND MIGHT WE CROSS PATHES ONE DAY CAPT. JOE
Capt Tony Mantell		08/Oct/1998:11:27:35
Hey David you done a fine job on your web site very interesting and informative.I am a Kirby employee myself presently captain on the M/V Bronwynne Brent.
Capt. Don Sanders		07/Oct/1998:19:33:40
What a fine web site. You've done a great job capturing the real and true essence of the river. I'm the Senior Captain of the Grand victoria II, the casino boat that you show all lit-up in New Orleans when she was the Flamingo Casino. I've been on her for nearly three years, and love her more each day. Come visit, everyone, as my guest in Rising Sun, Indiana, right across the Ohio River from Rabbit Hash, Kentucky, and ahout 45 minutes West of downtown Cincinnati.
al girl		07/Oct/1998:08:00:04
this is a really cool homde page for the mississippi river!
STEPHEN COLBY		05/Oct/1998:10:54:54
I WORK FOR BLUEGRASS MARINE IN PADUCAH KY YOU HAVE A VERY INFORMATIVE PAGE. IF YOU WANT TO MAKE A TRIP ON A GRAIN TOW GIVE ME A CALL 1-800-456-9404.
BMC(SW) Perry J. Whi	Picture Page (Kids)	04/Oct/1998:22:26:50
Got a heck of a page there! Enjoyed all of it. I did time on various US Navy ships, along with Master duty on 135 foot landing craft. Nothing like the river as you discribe it though. But all that will change soon cause I am into test #4 of #5 of my 200GT near coastal Master ticket. Just have to pass plot in the am and then get the radar endorsement. Look forward to a long career after the Navy. Again.....great job on the page! Chief Whitney
Robert		04/Oct/1998:19:54:40
I enjoyed your webpage! I plan on canoeing the entire Mississippi river during the summer of '99. Any information you could give me on brage traffic and saftey from a canoer's perspective would be appreciated. Thank you.
Mike		30/Sep/1998:22:30:35
Michael Ayers		30/Sep/1998:10:47:08
David O'Brien		27/Sep/1998:17:17:32
A great page! I live in Memphis and spend a lot of time on the river. But your insight gave me a whole new look. Thanks David
Phil Greenwood		25/Sep/1998:22:05:34
I'm 35 yrs old and had never seen a towboat ( I live in Nebraska) until a fishing trip on the Missouri River this summer. We were camping at Brownville Ne wich has a boat ramp to launch our fishing boat. I remember the time was exactly 4:35am, I woke up to what sounded like a farm tractor or combine right outside our camper. I looked outside and to my surprise I saw the "Omaha" in tow heading up river. I was truly amazed at the power and incredibly bright lights she had. When we got up in the morning we forgot about fishing and headed up river to see in the daylight what this boat really looked like. we caught her about 28 miles upstream near Nebraska City. we tighed off on the side of the river and watched her pass, I was in awe at her power and stil am. Later that day we went to the riverboat museum at Brownville. This is an old steam dredge. I started to imagine what life on the river must really be like. You have done a excellent job with this web page in capturing the mys
Dan Farrow	Rose city Net	25/Sep/1998:13:47:21
Nice pages.
Mitch Winder		24/Sep/1998:09:47:23
Thanks for the neat stories and photos. My wife and kids spend weekends on the upper Miss. in Pools 13,14, and 15 aboard our 21' runabout. Now i have a better understanding of life aboard a towboat.
Capt.Vic's other wif		20/Sep/1998:11:49:13
Hi, David....so good to see you back and read about your experiences. Capt. Vic enjoyed your webpage about him so much and really thanks you for your comments. He is a special man (I may be a little prejudice!). I, too, have noticed the look on people's faces when I tell them what he does for a living...it's like stepping into a temporary dreamland and wondering what all you might find there. It's a hard life for you guys out there, but you are doing a great job! Keep the great news coming....LOVE IT! Nancy Bodden
Dan Owen		11/Sep/1998:20:20:25
Good job! Brings back the days I spent as deckhand and mate for Union Barge Line from 1958 to 1968. Those days have sure changed, going from nineteen people per boat down to about nine. The boat speed has doubled and tows are twice as heavy and on the lower, twice as big.
Wm. Zumwalt - Old Ri	Old River Bill's Home Page	11/Sep/1998:00:39:14
Joe brown just told me of your site, so a visit was in order, and think you have a great site. Keep up the great work, its going to get a lot more hits, after i add it to my River related - Hot Links page on my site. ]Hope you'll drop by my site and see how a modeler builds these boats from scratch, using my plans and info. Keep yer lines tight. Old River Bill - at Sink'um -&- Float'us Salvage Co. ( SFSCo. ) a source for scratch building plans of Towboats and Barges, a realm where you "Churn Mud -&- Chew Stumps" with R/C Towboats. JUST LIKE THE REAL ONES!
mel hartsough		10/Sep/1998:22:35:37
Great page! Ran across it while surfing river stuff. My first ride on a steamboat was also on the Natchez. My second ride was on the Mississippi Queen and lasted about 8 years as a deckhand, watchman, leadman, and finally mate. I also decked for Ingram, Federal, and Gulf Canal on towboats. I had an old fellow mate from the MQ -&- DQ that was a pilot for Sabine named Dick Weber. Maybe you know him ? Anyway, you did an excellent job with the page. And take my advice, don't cut you ties with the river like I did, you'll be sorry.
Joe Brown	Towboat Joe	10/Sep/1998:21:02:10
Fantastic page with some beautiful pics. I have lived on the Ohio River all my life and can't see me ever being where I can't see a river. This is a good site to visit whenever I'm away from the sights and sounds of the river, thanks. See my towboat models at my web site www.dragg.net/jbrown Have a good day...Towboat Joe
John Welch		29/Aug/1998:14:27:58
I'm a Storyteller. Fascinated with canals and river boats. A couple of years I was at a Storytelling conference in Winnona MN a got a glimps of what a riverboat was . It has taken me this long to find this site. Looking forward to reading some of your stories. I live in Massachusetts about 30 miles west of the Cape Cod canal
Rich Cherry	Austin, Texas	28/Aug/1998:21:38:06
Great content! I really enjoyed it all! Very informative. Thanks for the hitch..... Rich
Lorraine Scurti		27/Aug/1998:10:47:53
This is a beautiful website. As the wife of a towboat engineer, I sometimes wonder why he keeps leaving me for the river. Your pictures say a lot. He loves his work. More than once, people have gotten far-away looks in their eyes when I tell them what my husband does for a living. I'd love to hear from any other wives who might want to exchange e-mail messages.
Karin V. Zippmann		21/Aug/1998:08:38:41
Your home page is great. It really does give a person the feel of the river. I have a friend who is Chief Engineer on the Renee G.. We talk alot about the river and the experiences he has when he's out there. I can only imagine the hard work but the beauty of the river has to offset the hard work. That's what pulls you all back to her.
Capt. Dennis Sanamo		11/Aug/1998:22:05:20
Capt.Paul Norman Sr.		11/Aug/1998:00:38:49
capt. ray sexton		07/Aug/1998:12:28:37
KYLE PFENNING		04/Aug/1998:19:16:33
ANYONE WANTING TO KNOW MORE ABOUT JOBS ON THE RIVER email ME AT wknkyle@aol.com
Kyle Pfenning		04/Aug/1998:19:12:06
HEY, THIS IS ABOUT AS NEAT A PAGE AS I HAVE SEEN. I WAS LOOKING FOR R.I.B.B. WHEN I STUMBLED IN. I AM THE CREW DISPATCHER FOR WESTERN KENTUCKY NAVIGATION (WKN)...WE OPPERATE 16 BOATS ON INLAND WATERWAYS, FROM 4300 HP TO 6800 HP TOWBOATS...BEFORE I STARTED WORK IN THE OFFICE I PUT MY TIME IN ON THE BOATS....AFTER VIEWING YOUR PAGE IT GAVE ME THE BUG TO GET OUT TO THE BOATS....I AM GOING TO HAVE TO PUT THE PHONE DOWN AND TRY TO CATCH A BOAT FOR A FEW DAYS..THERE IS NO FEELING LIKE JUST COMING OFF WATCH EARLY IN THE MORNING, WATCHING THE SUN RISE AND HEAR THE SOFT RUMBLE OF THE BOAT MAKING MILES.....IF YOU ARE EVER INTERESTED IN GETTING BACK OUT GIVE ME A CALL... OFFICE # 800-811-8133......I AM ALWAYS LOOKING FOR A GOOD EXP. MAN.....KYLE PFENNING....WKN...PADUCAH KY
Elton L. Adams		30/Jul/1998:23:07:31
I came upon your webpage while browsing . I used to work with Buddy Strickland and Vic Boden. I was captain on the marathon when it was a new vessel. I worked for Sabine for 17 years. I worked for Hines on the miss. and ohio and Crowley at Long Beach Ca. I have been working for a major oil company for the last 10 years in New York. You mentioned that Vic Boden had a website, maybe you could pass my e-mail address to him as i have not seen those boys in a while. I live in Texas in the Toledo Bend area. Nice page, most people do not know how it is to live on the water and generally dont talk much about it. Keep up the work. Captain Elton L. Adams

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