Odds and Ends

First, we had a good storm around 6am (daylight time) that dropped about an inch of rain. More expected later today.

Second, this is the week of meetings about the Shut-Ins and the river.
Open houses for input on the long-term redevelopment of Johnson's Shut-Ins State Park will be held at the following dates and locations:

* April 3 -- 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. at Lesterville High School, Hwy. 21 and Elm in Lesterville;

* April 4 -- 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. at the Missouri Department of Natural Resources Conference Center, 1738 E. Elm St. in Jefferson City;

* April 4 -- 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. at the Farmington High School cafeteria at 1 Black Knight Drive in Farmington;

* April 5 -- 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. at St. Louis County Library, Oak Bend Branch, 842 S. Holmes Ave. (north of Big Bend).

This long-term redevelopment plan will closely follow the regular conceptual development plan process used for all state parks and historic sites, but this one will be at an accelerated pace. Following the April series of open houses for initial input, two more rounds of meetings will be held. The goal is to have a redevelopment plan in place by early fall.

Third, while checking Experienceblackriver.com to see if they had posted any new material (get busy Kevin, hint, hint!) I noticed a link for Black River Lodge. While its not exactly a web site, I suppose its better than nothing. I did notice that the web site for Wilderness Lodge has been updated for 2006.

Finally, this Tuesday is election day. Here in Reynolds County we will be voting with voting machines for the first time. Up till now we voted on paper ballots that were hand counted and then the ballots were sewn together with a large needle and cotton twine. Another old tradition is gone.