Tuesday, March 31, 2009
Computer Issues
Just wanted to let you know I've been having problems with my computer, thus I haven't been able to be online much the past week or so, which is why I haven't been updating the blog as frequently as I would like. I will hopefully be back on track by the end of the week, writing more regular updates and posting pics again. Bear with me. :) Thanks!
Monday, March 30, 2009
Poker Tournament this Saturday
The Pontiac Ladies Club is hosting a Texas Hold 'Em Tournament at 6 p.m. this Saturday at the Pontiac fire house. Anyone is welcome to enter for a $20 buy-in. All proceeds will go to the Ozark County Food Pantry. The ladies will serve refreshments. Call Mary Beth Roberts at 679-3609 or Vita Curvey at 679-4688 for more details.
Monday, March 23, 2009
Fishing Report
Pictured above is Paxton Lovan (Rogersville) - he and Matt caught their limits on Sunday - on jerk baits and swimming minnows (if you can believe that). Not only are folks catching white bass and black bass, but the crappie fishing has been great, too. If you're itchin' to go fishin' you better get on it - you're missing out!
Thursday, March 19, 2009
Updates
FYI: The water is now turned on at the dock.
Also, I spoke to our park attendants for this year - John and Guyla (you may remember them from two years ago...) - this afternoon, and they informed me that the water and electricity are turned on in the park. However, the "no camping" signs are still posted and will stay up until the Corps is able to get a tree-trimming crew in the park to take care of all the broken limbs in the tagged trees. John and Guyla are planning to move in to the park around April 1 - hopefully campsites will be available to rent by then or shortly after.
Also, I spoke to our park attendants for this year - John and Guyla (you may remember them from two years ago...) - this afternoon, and they informed me that the water and electricity are turned on in the park. However, the "no camping" signs are still posted and will stay up until the Corps is able to get a tree-trimming crew in the park to take care of all the broken limbs in the tagged trees. John and Guyla are planning to move in to the park around April 1 - hopefully campsites will be available to rent by then or shortly after.
Wednesday, March 18, 2009
Reminder: Benefit for Clines this Saturday
Just a reminder that the pie auction and live music event for Tom and Mary Cline is this Saturday - auction begins at 4 p.m.; music by Revolver at 6 p.m. Questions? Call Jackie at 417-372-1625 or Pam Guidorzi at 417-679-3070. (Scroll down and click on "older posts" to see the original post with details from March 3.)
Monday, March 16, 2009
Pontiac park update
I spoke with someone in the Mountain Home Corps office, and she confirmed what we thought about the "No camping until further notice" signs. They posted the signs because they are going to be coming in soon to work on removing the broken limbs from the tagged trees. She said the goal is to have all the parks re-opened by April 1. We'll keep you posted.
Friday, March 13, 2009
Notice these signs?
Apparently the Corps posted a couple of these signs at the entrance to the Pontiac Park a couple of hours ago. Tony Allbright just alerted me of it about a half hour ago, so I ran up there and snapped this picture with my phone. We knew nothing of any plans to restrict camping here, so I immediately tried to reach the Mountain Home Corps office, but it was already closed for the day. You may have noticed the Corps has also tagged several trees in the park with white or orange ribbon - again, we're not sure what those are for, but we're assuming the orange trees are going to be removed (they seem to be in the worst shape) and the white trees are going to be trimmed because of broken limbs. We're just assuming the newly posted signs are related to the tree tagging. I'm sure it's only temporary and the park will be open soon for campers. (The park officially opens April 1 with water and electricity.) Between now and Monday I will be looking in to this and let you know as soon as I know more. Thanks for your patience and cooperation.
Thursday, March 12, 2009
A story from this week's Ozark County Times...
Pontiac/Price Place VFD lowers ISO rating
by Jabet Wade - Special to the Times
Members of the Pontiac/Price Place Volunteer Fire Department were ecstatic to learn last Tuesday that they lowered their ISO rating from a 9 to a 5, which makes them the lowest rated volunteer fire department in Ozark County.
The ISO collects and analyzes information relating to an individual fire department’s ability to respond to calls in their district, then assigns a Public Protection Classification (PPC) from 1 to 10 — 1 being the best and 10 the worst.
In Missouri, the only department with a Class 1 designation is the St. Louis fire department. Only seven departments in Missouri have a Class 2 designation, including Springfield and Columbia. In Ozark County, the only department with a better rating than a 9 is Gainesville, which is a 7. Nearby Oakland/Promise Land volunteer fire department is a 6.
A couple of the members I spoke to said they would have been thrilled with a 6, and many expected to receive a 7. They never dreamed it would go as low as a 5.
For the better part of this decade, the PPPVFD has tossed around the idea of trying to lower its ISO rating, in an effort to help its members save money. Board chairman Bob Kirgan says the biggest hang-up was always equipment. One of the ISO requirements they would have to meet before a lower rating would even be considered is the ability to pump 250 gallons of water per minute for two hours. That wasn’t possible until last May, when the department acquired a high-volume pump that would allow them to quickly refill the fire trucks.
After months of practicing, the PPPVFD was tested in October. Volunteer firefighters ran through drills that demonstrated their ability to work as a team, handle equipment and refill tankers to keep a continuous supply of water flowing at a staged “fire.” Now, five months later, they finally have the results.
On the heels of recent devastating fires in Ozark County, including the one that destroyed the home of Tom and Mary Cline, of Pontiac, the department wants to be sensitive about this announcement. They want their members to understand the purpose of lowering the rating is not for bragging rights for the department, but rather to help its members save money. The PPPVFD is still a rural, volunteer fire department, and responding to and putting out fires will always be a more difficult task than it is in districts with full-time firefighters.
The Pontiac-Price Place Volunteer Fire Department recently qualified for an ISO rating of 5, the lowest in the county, after the department and their equipment was tested in October.
So, how will the lower rating help members save money?
Many insurance companies factor in ISO ratings when calculating premiums for their policy holders. Therefore, a lower rating should translate to lower premiums for most members, depending on the company and individual policies.
A couple members have already called their agents to find out how much the lower rating will save them in the future. Roger and Debbie Lee learned they are going to save about $200 yearly, while Kirgan says he is going to save about $275.
Marlin Wallace, American Family insurance agent, says a Class 5 designation should lower rates for American Family customers by about one-third.
While most members will likely see a decrease in their insurance rates, it is important to note that not all insurance companies factor in the ISO rating. The ISO simply evaluates risk and offers their findings to the companies; each individual company chooses how or whether to use the information.
The new rating will take effect July 1. In the meantime, the PPPVFD is preparing and will mail a formal letter to all members who have paid their dues. Members are encouraged to present the letter to their insurance agents and request a lower rate.
The PPPVFD would like to thank all the local fire departments in Missouri and Arkansas that assisted with equipment, manpower and record-keeping during this process. They’d also like to thank the Pontiac Ladies Club and the Pontiac and Price Place communities for their continued support of the fire department. “The PPPVFD is totally dependent on member participation,” says training officer Al Davidson. “These dues-paying members will now see a return on their investment.”
For more information on the ISO rating and the PPPVFD, call fire chief Bill Richardson at 679-4674 or Kirgan at 679-3432. Or, visit iso.com.
by Jabet Wade - Special to the Times
Members of the Pontiac/Price Place Volunteer Fire Department were ecstatic to learn last Tuesday that they lowered their ISO rating from a 9 to a 5, which makes them the lowest rated volunteer fire department in Ozark County.
The ISO collects and analyzes information relating to an individual fire department’s ability to respond to calls in their district, then assigns a Public Protection Classification (PPC) from 1 to 10 — 1 being the best and 10 the worst.
In Missouri, the only department with a Class 1 designation is the St. Louis fire department. Only seven departments in Missouri have a Class 2 designation, including Springfield and Columbia. In Ozark County, the only department with a better rating than a 9 is Gainesville, which is a 7. Nearby Oakland/Promise Land volunteer fire department is a 6.
A couple of the members I spoke to said they would have been thrilled with a 6, and many expected to receive a 7. They never dreamed it would go as low as a 5.
For the better part of this decade, the PPPVFD has tossed around the idea of trying to lower its ISO rating, in an effort to help its members save money. Board chairman Bob Kirgan says the biggest hang-up was always equipment. One of the ISO requirements they would have to meet before a lower rating would even be considered is the ability to pump 250 gallons of water per minute for two hours. That wasn’t possible until last May, when the department acquired a high-volume pump that would allow them to quickly refill the fire trucks.
After months of practicing, the PPPVFD was tested in October. Volunteer firefighters ran through drills that demonstrated their ability to work as a team, handle equipment and refill tankers to keep a continuous supply of water flowing at a staged “fire.” Now, five months later, they finally have the results.
On the heels of recent devastating fires in Ozark County, including the one that destroyed the home of Tom and Mary Cline, of Pontiac, the department wants to be sensitive about this announcement. They want their members to understand the purpose of lowering the rating is not for bragging rights for the department, but rather to help its members save money. The PPPVFD is still a rural, volunteer fire department, and responding to and putting out fires will always be a more difficult task than it is in districts with full-time firefighters.
The Pontiac-Price Place Volunteer Fire Department recently qualified for an ISO rating of 5, the lowest in the county, after the department and their equipment was tested in October.
So, how will the lower rating help members save money?
Many insurance companies factor in ISO ratings when calculating premiums for their policy holders. Therefore, a lower rating should translate to lower premiums for most members, depending on the company and individual policies.
A couple members have already called their agents to find out how much the lower rating will save them in the future. Roger and Debbie Lee learned they are going to save about $200 yearly, while Kirgan says he is going to save about $275.
Marlin Wallace, American Family insurance agent, says a Class 5 designation should lower rates for American Family customers by about one-third.
While most members will likely see a decrease in their insurance rates, it is important to note that not all insurance companies factor in the ISO rating. The ISO simply evaluates risk and offers their findings to the companies; each individual company chooses how or whether to use the information.
The new rating will take effect July 1. In the meantime, the PPPVFD is preparing and will mail a formal letter to all members who have paid their dues. Members are encouraged to present the letter to their insurance agents and request a lower rate.
The PPPVFD would like to thank all the local fire departments in Missouri and Arkansas that assisted with equipment, manpower and record-keeping during this process. They’d also like to thank the Pontiac Ladies Club and the Pontiac and Price Place communities for their continued support of the fire department. “The PPPVFD is totally dependent on member participation,” says training officer Al Davidson. “These dues-paying members will now see a return on their investment.”
For more information on the ISO rating and the PPPVFD, call fire chief Bill Richardson at 679-4674 or Kirgan at 679-3432. Or, visit iso.com.
Tuesday, March 10, 2009
Catch of the day?
Thanks to Jeannie Looper for sharing this photo of her son, Jared, and his BIG catch over the weekend. This is what she wrote... "Just had to share this photo of Jared and his big catch this past Saturday. We are not quite sure how this little guy took the lure... In all fairness to Jared, he did catch his fair share of keepers on Saturday, but this shot was just too good to pass up."
Monday, March 09, 2009
Ethanol and boat motors just don't mix
You've all heard stories about ethanol ruining boat motors. But why, exactly, is it so harmful? In a recent magazine article, Captain John N. Raguso, Marine Products Editor with The Fisherman and a licensed USCG Master and charter boat skipper with more than three decades of offshore experience writes the following:
PHASE SEPARATION
According to Frank Kelley, Mercury's Fuels and Lubricants Manager, public enemy #1, and the one thing to avoid at all costs when using an ethanol blended gasoline, is the presence of water. Once water gets into the fuel (it can occur via condensation from a half-filled tank, a loose fill cap, deck water and/or spray sneaking into your vent line, among other ways), you get a nasty situation called phase separation. Only one ounce of water introduced into 100 ounces of E-10 gasoline can cause 10 ounces of ethanol to "separate" from the petroleum base and combine with the water to sit on the bottom of your tank, creating a lethal witch's brew that will choke your engine. The bad news, according to Frank, is that once phase separation occurs, it is very difficult to get the ethanol back into the gasoline. "Sooner or later a slug of essentially ethanol and water with little or no gasoline tries to go through the engine." Bottom line is that no manufacturer's engines, inboard or outboard, were meant to run on this nasty ethanol and water mix.
An even bigger problem is that running phase-separated gas through your engine can potentially void your warranty, as stated in many new engine warranty manuals. Dean Corbisier, Suzuki Marine Press Manager, mentioned that all Suzuki four-stroke outboards are compatible with the new ethanol-blended gasoline, providing that the ethanol mix is strictly regulated at 10 percent or less. There was an interesting section in the Suzuki manual that mentioned that they, "Highly recommend the use of alcohol-free fuels whenever possible."
Yet another problem brought to my attention after interviewing various boat mechanics was there had been an initial surge of carburetor and fuel pump rebuilds, due to the lack of compatibility of the alcohol in the ethanol-blended gasoline, compromising the neoprene components of the O-rings, gaskets, diaphragms and seals of older engines that were developed prior to the wholesale distribution of the E-10 fuel.
Note: Pontiac Cove Marina sells ethanol-free gasoline only. We pay extra to keep ethanol out of our fuel. Be aware that when you fill up your boat at a highway filling station, you are getting 10 percent ethanol in your fuel.
PHASE SEPARATION
According to Frank Kelley, Mercury's Fuels and Lubricants Manager, public enemy #1, and the one thing to avoid at all costs when using an ethanol blended gasoline, is the presence of water. Once water gets into the fuel (it can occur via condensation from a half-filled tank, a loose fill cap, deck water and/or spray sneaking into your vent line, among other ways), you get a nasty situation called phase separation. Only one ounce of water introduced into 100 ounces of E-10 gasoline can cause 10 ounces of ethanol to "separate" from the petroleum base and combine with the water to sit on the bottom of your tank, creating a lethal witch's brew that will choke your engine. The bad news, according to Frank, is that once phase separation occurs, it is very difficult to get the ethanol back into the gasoline. "Sooner or later a slug of essentially ethanol and water with little or no gasoline tries to go through the engine." Bottom line is that no manufacturer's engines, inboard or outboard, were meant to run on this nasty ethanol and water mix.
An even bigger problem is that running phase-separated gas through your engine can potentially void your warranty, as stated in many new engine warranty manuals. Dean Corbisier, Suzuki Marine Press Manager, mentioned that all Suzuki four-stroke outboards are compatible with the new ethanol-blended gasoline, providing that the ethanol mix is strictly regulated at 10 percent or less. There was an interesting section in the Suzuki manual that mentioned that they, "Highly recommend the use of alcohol-free fuels whenever possible."
Yet another problem brought to my attention after interviewing various boat mechanics was there had been an initial surge of carburetor and fuel pump rebuilds, due to the lack of compatibility of the alcohol in the ethanol-blended gasoline, compromising the neoprene components of the O-rings, gaskets, diaphragms and seals of older engines that were developed prior to the wholesale distribution of the E-10 fuel.
Note: Pontiac Cove Marina sells ethanol-free gasoline only. We pay extra to keep ethanol out of our fuel. Be aware that when you fill up your boat at a highway filling station, you are getting 10 percent ethanol in your fuel.
Friday, March 06, 2009
Thursday, March 05, 2009
It's Official!
Starting tomorrow we are officially open for the season! (Not that we've been closed all winter, but our hours have been pretty limited for the past three months.) This weekend we'll be open 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. Friday and Saturday; and 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Sunday. With the time change on Sunday we may stay open later the following weekend... it will depend on the weather. I'll keep you posted week by week as the hours change, but for now you can count on the hours listed above. We've already gotten in some of the new merchandise - including t-shirts, sweatshirts (great for this time of year!) and hats. We're also working on filling in our snack section and soda and beer cooler. Just bear with us as the season gets going! And feel free to make requests. Have a great weekend, everyone! Hope to see you soon at the lake.
Tuesday, March 03, 2009
Benefit Pie Auction
I heard from Jackie Klineline today, and she informed me there will be a benefit pie auction for Tom and Mary Cline at 4 p.m. March 21 at Just Jackie's restaurant in Pontiac. Tom, Ozark County prosecutor, and Mary lost their home in a fire on Feb. 20. The fire is being called arson and is under investigation.Everyone is welcome to attend the pie auction at 4 p.m., then stick around afterward to hear live music from the band, Revolver, of which Tom is a member. (Music starts at 6 p.m.) Jackie said she already has 50 to 60 pies promised for the auction. If you'd like to donate something for the auction, that's great. But, the real need is getting folks to come out and bid on the goodies! If you have questions about the event or would like more information, please call Jackie at 417-372-1625 or Pam Guidorzi at 417-679-3070.
Pictured above: Tom and Mary Cline
Sunday, March 01, 2009
March 1 - Hurray!
This picture was taken yesterday - the last day of February, and of course it had to snow! The forecast for the first week of March in Pontiac looks much more spring-like, and hopefully that means spring is here to stay! (It will be official in 19 days and counting...) Today is a beautiful, sunny day, although it is a little chilly - 42 degrees. Fishing is good. The wind has laid fairly low lately. What more could you ask for on the first day of March?
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