Rumors and Observations

Rumor - One of the bigger Lesterville businesses is considering making changes because of the early start to the school year. Camp Taum Sauk has already altered its long time schedule because of this problem. Kids have to be back for school and camp staff and wait staff are also made up of college students that are also starting earlier. With higher energy prices I think that the tourism industry is in for a rocky time in the years to come.

Observation - One of my customers yesterday commented on the lack of canoes in the river on Sunday afternoon. They said it was great for them, but they wondered about the effect on area businesses.

Rumor - One of the campgrounds only has 25 reservations for the Labor Day weekend and the person telling me this has camped in Lesterville for over 25 years and she felt there were fewer campers here this week than anytime in her experience.

Observation - When Pam and I went to Farmington on Monday we couldn't believe the number of dead and dying trees in the hills along Hiway V outside of Pilot Knob. With a number of low rain summers in a row I wonder if we aren't going to begin to see some forest fires in the next few years.