All roads lead to... WATER

Sorry I haven't written sooner, or taken any more pics. I will snap a few shots tomorrow and post them. The lake is up to 680 today. That's 26 feet above normal pool. This is the latest forecast from the Corps of Engineers:

Wednesday: 682.1
Thursday: 683.3
Friday: 684.1

Bull Shoals is expected to crest on April 12 at 688.7. However, at this point we really aren't very hopeful about that, as there is still more rain in the forecast.

FYI: Both the 500 and 800 docks are connected to the main dock now. So if your boat is on either of those docks, you'll have to come on the main walkway to get to them. The top road is completely under water, so the only parking to speak of is below Jackie's.

I know it sounds bad... but really... it's not that bad. I've had a few folks call to ask if we're open and if the lake is navigable. Trust me, we are open and we will be no matter how high the water gets. It's been higher than this before. We can handle it if you can handle it. The lake is just a little bigger than what we're all used to. And so far, it doesn't seem to be an issue, as folks are going out daily from Pontiac.

Call if you have questions.

Lake Level Today = 673.7

(Top left): As you can see, the water is starting to creep up on the top road now. (Top right): This shot was taken from the dock near the dive shop... you can see the launch ramp is... well... barely there. But it is functional! (For now.) The latest forecast from the Corps for when we can expect B. S. to crest is 678.6 on April 6. We'll see!

Fishin' Gooooood

Gabe and Matt both caught their limit of whites this evening. I'm not supposed to tell where they caught them. I guess they're afraid everyone will flock to their honey hole. But here's a clue: It sort of rhymes with string cheese... uh-huh... think about it. Yep, you guessed it. It's not that difficult to figure out. Lots of people go there to fish for white bass. Anyway, Gabe also caught a nice largemouth. You could say fishing is good!

Lake Level Update

I reported earlier today that Bull Shoals is supposed to crest at 680.4 on April 11. That's the info we received via e-mail from the Corps office in Mtn. Home yesterday. However, if you click here, you can see the lake level forecast, which shows B.S. cresting at 675.2 on April 4. They do update this forecast daily, so I'll be checking later in the week to see if that changes again.

Yes, Bull Shoals Lake is navigable.

Hi folks. I'd like to dispel any rumors you may have heard that Bull Shoals Lake is not fishable, nor is it safe to navigate because of the high water. This is simply not true. At least not in Pontiac. There are people fishing every day out of this marina. Now, the condition of the lake certainly is not ideal. We're used to clear water, and right now the clarity is just terrible. But there are still fish being caught by our local fishermen. Also, I would advise boaters to watch for debris in the water (something else we're not used to having to worry about). But other than that, you can certainly go out on the lake. If you're looking for a place to launch your boat, our ramp is still accessible as well.

Current lake conditions: Bull Shoals is currently at 672.4 (18 feet above normal pool). According to an e-mail we received from the Corps of Engineers office in Mountain Home, Ark., yesterday, the lake is still going up another 8 feet, where it should crest at 680.4 on April 11. This does not take into account any rain we may get in the next few days, so that could very well change. We'll keep you posted.

PCM is open daily: 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday - Thursday; 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. Friday & Saturday; 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sunday.

Keep Left :)

In case you're wondering, we survived all the rain! So far, anyway. Matt and Josh did have to take a boat to get on the dock this morning! But everything is fine. Just a little extra water. The lake is about 664+ now. By the time I finish writing this it will probably be even higher than that! It's coming up about 4 inches an hour today. A rep from the Corps called this morning and told us Bull Shoals will crest next Thursday, March 27, at 675 -- that's 21 feet above normal pool. And that's ONLY if we don't get any more rain between now and then. Yowzas. Get ready to say bye-bye to the top road. By the time this is over we'll be able to walk right off the dock and onto Jackie's deck! Some of you have seen it that high before. Others haven't. Get your cameras ready!

FYI: Our hours are 8 to 5 Monday to Thursday; 8 to 6 Friday and Saturday; and 8 to 4 on Sunday. As you know, that will change as the days get longer and we get closer to summertime.

Despite all the rain we've had the past couple days, Easter weekend looks to be promising weather-wise. The sun is already out this afternoon. By tomorrow we should be in the upper 60s and sunny, and staying that way through the weekend! Hope you're staying dry, where ever you are! Cheers!

Fish Tales

(Above left): Chris Geroff caught this largemouth Saturday afternoon. His fishing buddy (who I won't name here, because I don't want to embarrass him) caught the little white. (Above right): Bob Gunkel caught a mess of whites Saturday afternoon.

Signs of Spring

Easter lilies and white bass. 'Nuff said.

Addin' On

(Above) The new addition to the 500 dock is under way. The guys have already made a lot of progress, and this is only Day 2. When the project is finished, there will be 12 new slips at the end of this dock (by the launch ramp).

(Below) It looks like the lake level has peaked out at almost 661 today, and starting tomorrow it is scheduled to start back down.

Oh, the lake level...

The lake is completely over the lower road now. It's about 660, which is six feet above normal pool. When you come to the dock, it would be best if you park on the top road and come down the stairs. The walkway extends all the way from the bottom of the stairs, across the water-covered lower road, and onto the dock. According to the Corps lake level prediction it's still going to come up almost another foot. Hopefully at that point we'll see it peak and start to go back down.

Snow, snow, go away!

Yet another snow storm is upon us. As I type it is snowing outside. There is some accumulation on our deck -- an inch or maybe two -- but I noticed it's melting when it hits the pavement. That's a good sign, although I imagine as the temperature drops throughout the night it may start to stick to the roads, too. Earlier today we were in the 6-9 inch range, but I just checked ky3.com and it looks like we're right on the border between 1-3 inches and 3-5 inches. Let's hope for the lesser amount. Everyone I talk to agrees... Winter has worn out its welcome. Time for warmer weather to get here and stay! Sunday's forecast looks pretty darn good. Sunny and around 50 degrees. Don't forget we're open 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through Saturday, and 8 a.m. to noon on Sunday. The time changes this Sunday. So, we may start staying open later as soon as next weekend, depending on the weather, of course. I'll keep you posted. Have a good evening. I hope it isn't snowing where you are!

The Lake Runneth Over

Fortunately, we didn't get the 6 to 12 inches of snow that was predicted for our area; however, it is still snowing. The biggest problem we have right now is the lake level. You can see that the lake is over the lower road now. The question is... how much higher is it going to go? Wish we knew the answer!!

19 Days and Counting

Well, Mother Nature got it right this time. It's March 1. It's Saturday. And it's absolutely gorgeous. Mid to upper 60s. Not a cloud in the sky. A little breezy. But that's okay. We'll take it. We're officially open full time again! Today we're open until 4 p.m. Tomorrow we'll be open until noon. (It's supposed to be rainy and turning cold again... go figure.) It's been fairly busy today. It's great! Fishing licenses are the big seller. (The '07 license expired yesterday.) A little gas. Some tackle. A lot of folks are just out and about enjoying the day. If you're sitting inside reading this on Saturday afternoon, shame on you. Get out and breathe the fresh air! Spring is near! (19 days and counting)

Cheers!

Longer Hours!!!!!!

The forecast for this weekend looks pretty promising: 60 degrees and sunny! Could spring be just around the corner? We can only hope! Starting this Saturday we will be open 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. daily; but we will close at noon on Sunday. (At least for this Sunday, and we'll let you know about next Sunday -- it all depends on the weather and traffic.) As you know, between now and Memorial weekend our hours will continue to get longer. I'll try to keep you updated here as we change the hours. So... if you've been waiting for a nice day/weekend to come down and check on your boat, why not make it this weekend?!

Normal for Now

Well, other than the fact that it snowed an inch last night! AND... it's supposed to hit 50 degrees today, things are pretty much back to normal at the dock. What little ice we did get last week finished melting over the weekend. And all that rain (here and everywhere else) brought the lake rapidly back up to normal pool practically overnight.

Click here to check out the lake level forecast on a daily basis.

Ice, Ice Baby

Despite what this looks like, we really didn't get any of the ice that was predicted for last night; just a few icicles on the trees. Highway W is clear, at least our end of it. And our driveway and sidewalk are, too. I think most of the ice stayed north of us. I heard Ava (45 miles north of Pontiac) had it pretty bad, and Springfield, of course. All the schools in southwest MO are closed again today, including Ozark County schools. Some of the side roads must be slick. Anyway, I figured some of you might be wondering how we fared down here, and I'm happy to report just fine. Chins up, everyone. Only 37 days until spring!

Beaver Patrol

There is a beaver on the loose at PCM. The darn thing chewed this tree down! It's 8 feet tall and about 9 inches in diameter -- the tree, not the beaver. I've never seen the animal, but we know he exists. You can see where he has chewed down trees and limbs along the shoreline, and he leaves debris in the water. (Plus, there are reported sightings by a couple different PCM customers.) We found this tree floating under the walkway. We assume he was trying to swim it to his nest (which we believe is under one of the old docks near the office), and he either couldn't hack it (I could barely lift it!), or he got startled and dropped it. Either way, now he'll have to walk right up to the front door to retrieve it. We'll see how brave this beaver really is.

Meanwhile, does anyone out there have any bright ideas on how to catch a beaver?

TONS of snow

The sun shone all day yesterday, and temps were well above freezing. So a good portion of the snow melted. Today it's supposed to be sunny again and even warmer (50s!!), so I'm guessing (hoping) the rest will melt. Overall the docks made it just fine in the snow. Had the crew not shoveled those roofs, though, who knows? A couple of the older ones were really sitting low with all that extra weight on them. Speaking of weight, Tim did a little calculating, and he figured they shoveled 65 tons of snow -- or 130,000 pounds!! Wow! I know, it doesn't sound believable. But numbers are his forté. So I'd say that's pretty darn accurate. And they didn't even shovel all the roofs -- they didn't touch the 200, 500 or 800 docks. And on the roofs they did shovel... they only pushed about 8 feet off each side. So just think how many more tons were still up there! Wow!

Lighten the Load

The snow finally stopped. I think we ended up with about 6 inches total. Another front is supposed to move through later this afternoon/evening, but hopefully it won't dump as much on us as the first one did. The guys (and gal -- Angie) are still shoveling away. Tim, Josh and Matt are up there, and a big THANK YOU to Gabe, Skip, Angie, Gary & Sue Giavanini, and Bob Gunkel for their help today. (Click the images to enlarge them.)

Enough Already!

I took this pic at 10 a.m. We've gotten 5 1/2 inches already! It has let up a little... but it's still falling... probably be shoveling roofs pretty soon...

White Out

January is going out with a bang, isn't it! Everything was already covered when I first looked outside at 6:30 this morning. By 8:30 we already had 3 inches, and the flakes are only getting bigger and coming down faster. This is the view out our windshield as we turned off Highway W and headed down the road to the new (800) dock.

Interesting article in BoatU.S. Magazine

I found this article in the January 2008 issue of BoatU.S. Magazine. I thought you might be interested in reading it also...

Army Corps Floats Life Jacket Rule

The millions of visitors to lakes and reservoirs managed by the Army Corps of Engineers may have to wear life jackets to go boating, if the agency's chief has his way. The Corps, which has jurisdiction over 456 waterways in 43 states, is currently contemplating mandatory life jacket wear for all boaters on their waters. Major General Don Riley, Director of the Corps' Civil Works, is concerned that despite several decades of safety education aimed at swimmers and boaters, the water-related fatality rate at Corps facilities has not improved in the last few years.

Nationwide, the Corps has a 10-year average of 164 water-related fatalities a year. The majority of these deaths occur among swimmers outside designated swim areas, as well as from falls off docks, banks and land. Boating-specific deaths are approximately 42% of the annual water-related fatalities. This boating category includes deaths attributed to swimming from a boat, falling or fishing from the boat, nighttime capsizing, and capsizing in general.

At press time in late November, Corps staff was conducting research into existing state laws, enforcement capabilities and the effectiveness of education and outreach efforts. If the Corps decides to create a federal life jacket standard for its waters, the proposed change in Title 36 of the federal regulations would require a public comment period. However, if an individual district commander, leading one of the 38 districts of the Corps, decides to implement a life jacket requirement for all boaters in their own geographic district, they can enact this change merely by signing a statement to that effect.

BoatU.S. is part of the ongoing discussions with the Corps; if a comment period is announced, BoatU.S. will post notice at BoatUS.com/gov.

So far we have heard nothing of this proposition. We'll keep you posted if we do hear something out of the Little Rock District--our local district.

What are your thoughts?

Somewhere Over the Rainbow

So the massive cold front finally moved through Pontiac... and WOW! It dropped from 72 degrees to 32 degrees in less than two hours. We seriously had near hurricane-force winds -- fortunately it was blowing out of the north and not the southwest... Bobby Gunkel circled the park and stopped to chat with Tim for a minute, when he looked up to see his own boat sailing across the cove. "Well, there goes my boat!" Sure enough, it had broken loose from the 800 dock and was floating into the far side of the cove. "What do you want to do?" Tim said. "Let's go get it!" Bob said. So the two jumped in the work boat and headed over there. They couldn't do anything with the wind blowing that hard, so they had to leave it. In the meantime, two more boats broke loose from the same dock and floated into the same cove -- all three are still there, as the wind hasn't laid down enough for the guys to rescue them yet (you can see them in the picture above, waaaay back there).

While they were heading out in the work boat, I drove over to the parking lot by the launch ramp to take some pictures of the swells (six-footers at least) crashing onto the shore. When I got over there the wind ripped my car door out of my hand so fast, it nearly took the door off. And that's no exaggeration. It bent it so far back I could barely close it. It's totally messed up. Not to mention when I got out of the car I could hardly stand up. (Tim says it's the strongest straight-line winds he has ever seen. It's certainly the strongest I've ever seen.) Milt Hoefle drove up and we started to chat when the roof started peeling off the dock right in front of us (see pic above). Fortunately, that's really the only damage to the docks so far, besides a few lockers blown over. We haven't had a chance to check over every square inch, but we will. A few folks have been down to check on their boats. If you're in the area it might not be a bad idea to check on yours... but wait until the wind calms down. Hopefully we've seen the worst of it, but I don't know. The dock's still rockin' pretty good. We'll keep you posted.

Oh, of course... now the sun is shining!

The few. The proud.

Carrie Kohler recently graduated from U.S. Marine Corps basic training in Parris Island, South Carolina. Carrie is the daughter of Lisa Luna and step-daughter of Charles Luna. Lisa, Charles, Brittany and Kirstyn (Carrie’s sister and niece) all made the trip to see her graduate. Carrie took them on a tour of where she had lived for the past 13 weeks, obstacles she had completed, and the rifle range, where she had learned to shoot. Carrie was home for about a week, and currently she's working in a recruitment office in St. Louis, before she heads to Camp Geiger, North Carolina, for her MCT (Marine Combat Training). Carrie is a former Pontiac resident. She graduated from Gainesville High School and spent summers working at Just Jackie's. We're very proud of her! And we'll keep you posted on where she lands.

Running on Empty

Folks, I wanted to let you know we are currently selling premium unleaded gasoline again at PCM, which is what we always carried until just a few years ago when we made the switch to regular unleaded. And here's why: Some of you may already know that as of January 1 gasoline is required to contain 10% ethanol. However, marine fuel is exempt from that law, but only for premium unleaded gasoline. We've heard reports about what ethanol will do to outboard motors... we needed to get a load of gasoline... so we went with premium (91 octane) to avoid the ethanol, until we can determine what is going to be the best scenario for the majority of our customers.

What are your thoughts?

It's snowing in the desert!

Mike Cochran sent me these pictures this morning. He is currently working in Iraq. He said when he went to bed last night it was raining and when he woke up it was snowing! Not something they see too often where he is. As he put it: "Hell has frozen over!" Anyway, other than having a cold, Mike is doing well. We hope to see him soon.

Whew! All is well in the OC!

Well, I'm sure some of you are curious about whether Pontiac was in the line of severe storms and tornado touchdowns that went on for about 12 hours in southwest Missouri. I'm happy to say it all missed us. We were very lucky. The folks in the path of those storms, however, were not so lucky. Geez. What a mess. I hope any of you reading this were safe from the storms last night and did not suffer any property damage.

Yesterday it was 70 degrees. Last night there were like 50 tornadoes, this morning it rained so much many areas are flooded, and tonight it's supposed to be in the 20s, with possible snow by Sunday. Mother Nature must be stressed. Someone get her a beach, a fruity cocktail, and a hot guy named Sven to feed her grapes and fan her.

New Aerial Photo?

I'd really like to have a new aerial photo taken of Pontiac Cove once the addition to the new dock is complete this spring. Does anyone know anyone who could do this for me???

Upcoming Events

I don't have all the details, but you can at least mark your calendars for these Spring 2008 events at PCM:

April 12: Verne Cubbage Memorial Fishing Tournament: Last year we hosted the first ever tourney in Verne's honor. And we're doing it again this year. It's a one-day fishing tournament, with cash prizes for winners and LOTS of door prizes.

April 26: Third Annual Blessing of the Fleet: Can you believe this will be three years!! This event kicks off the 2008 boating season, with a boat blessing, costume and boat decorating contest, food, drinks and live entertainment. You won't want to miss it!

(FYI, 2008 hunting and fishing licenses are now available.)

The first post of 2008!

Happy New Year, everyone! (a few days late...) I hope you all had a wonderful holiday season and are now counting down the days to boating season! It will be here before we know it! (It really will...) As you can imagine, there isn't much happening around the dock these days. I do see some of our local fishermen -- especially on a day like today. WOW! Makes me long for spring already! It's 60-something, partly cloudy, and tomorrow is supposed to be even warmer! We had better enjoy this weather while we can... winter is coming.

We'll continue to maintain our winter hours through the end of February. You can (almost always) catch someone at the dock from 8 to 10 a.m. -- and often later in the day. We were closed on Christmas Eve, Christmas day, NYE, and NYday. And if we're planning to be closed any days in the next couple months I'll try to give you plenty of notice.

We, at PCM, are already gearing up for the 2008 boating season -- we've ordered new t-shirts and hats, and we'll be ordering bait and tackle soon. If there is something you'd like to see us carry this spring and summer, please don't hesitate to make a suggestion! Whether it's tackle, food, boating accessories, or (I'm sure we're not all giving up these vices for the new year) beer and tobacco products... I'm definitely open to new ideas!

Here's an interesting little tidbit for you before I go... A couple months ago I glanced at our customer accounts to see where you all call home! I discovered that 1/3 of you live in Pontiac/Ozark County; 1/3 live in the St. Louis area (including the 'burbs on the Illinois side); and 1/3 are from towns all across Missouri (i.e. Ava, Mansfield, Hartville, Mountain Grove, Springfield, Cape Girardeau etc.) And eight of you are from states other than Missouri or Illinois, including Arkansas, Iowa and Colorado.

Have a great afternoon!

A Christmas Catch

Skip and Angie Dechau went fishing yesterday afternoon. She caught the first fish, but he caught the biggest. Not a bad way to spend a beautiful Christmas afternoon in Pontiac!

A new website for a new year!

Hey everyone! Check it out. Our new website is FINALLY finished! It's been in the works for months, and it's finally up for the world to see. Give it a look. Let me know if you see any mistakes, or have any suggestions. I'll be adding pictures and information over the next several months. Your thoughts and comments are welcome. So chime in!

MERRY CHRISTMAS!

Holiday Schedule

Hey everyone! Just wanted to let you know the dock will be closed Christmas Eve and Christmas Day (Dec. 24-25) and New Year's Eve and New Year's Day (Dec. 31-Jan. 1).

That's all for now! Have a great weekend!

Home, Sweet Home

Tom and Dee Glenn are happy to have their son J.T. home from Iraq. He made it home Thanksgiving evening. He'll be here through Christmas, and then he heads to Germany on January 5, where he'll stay for about four months. J.T.'s first tour in Tikrit, Iraq lasted a year. Then he spent a year in Germany. And most recently he spent 16 months in Baghdad. J.T. is pictured above on his new motorcycle.

Whooooaaaa weather man (or woman)

So... it sleeted enough earlier to cover our porch and patio furniture. Wow! Didn't expect that. Well, it didn't literally cover it, I could still see the surface underneath. It just lightly accumulated on the wood. On the news this morning the forecast was for cold, but no precip in our part of the Ozarks. A-ha! They were wrong. No worries, it didn't stick to the roads, so it hasn't created a treacherous situation for Highway W. But I can imagine if it stays this cold (Lisa Luna reported her vehicle said 29 degrees) then we may be in trouble after dark if the roads stay wet.

Anyway, just thought I'd give you a little weather report since there isn't anything else exciting happening here. Have a good one! And stay warm.

Let it rain...

It's raining here. And we sure do need it. But what a dreary day. Fitting for the mood I'm in. (Tiger fans know what I'm talking about.)

Letters/statements went out Friday. Some of you may have received yours on Saturday, and the rest of you should look for them first of the week. If you have any questions please call me. If you aren't planning to renew let me know. If you aren't planning to renew and have a lift and haven't sold it/moved it yet, let me know your game plan. Thank you!

Have a nice Sunday.

M-I-Z !!!

Okay, so I know this is a "what's happening at Pontiac Cove Marina" blog, not a "what's happening in the world of football" blog... But I just can't help myself! WOW! Go Tigers! What a game Saturday night. We were there! It was incredible. First of all, our seats were amazing. We were six rows back from the field between the 20 and 30 yard lines. It was unbelievable. So, big high fives to all you PCM customers who happen to be Mizzou fans, too. WE'RE NUMBER 1!!!!

Now, back to business...

I'm finishing up the annual boat slip renewals and will have them in the mail by the end of this week. So you should be expecting to receive something soon. When you receive your statement, if you have any questions, please call me. If you don't plan to renew, please let me know asap. And if you have a lift and aren't renewing, remember you need to have arrangements made (either sold or moved out) by Jan. 1, or you will be expected to pay for the slip for 2008.

Starting this week we're switching over to our winter hours -- 8 a.m. to 10 a.m. daily. We do check our messages every day, so if you call and don't get an answer, leave a message and we'll call you back asap. If you need something during a time other than during those hours, just call ahead and we can make arrangements to meet you or whatever you need to do. We're flexible.

I hope everyone had a wonderful Thanksgiving holiday. Enjoy the next four weeks... Christmas will be here and gone before we know it! Oh, and what are your thoughts on a "Polar Bear Swim" on New Year's Day? Some of you might recall Skip and Angie Dechau jumping in the lake on New Year's Day this year... Lucky for them it was at least a sunny day, but still cold and the water was frigid. We all talked about getting a group together to do it this year, so keep checking back here in the coming weeks... I'll let you know if we're going to try to organize something.

Happy Monday!

Talkin' Turkey

Hey everyone! I just wanted to let you know PCM will be closed next Thursday and Friday (Nov. 22-23) for the Thanksgiving holiday. But we will be open on Saturday and Sunday. Just a heads up, in case you plan to spend some time at the lake next weekend.

Also, depending on the weather, we will most likely cut back to our winter hours starting December 1. We are typically open from 8-10 a.m. daily starting Dec. 1 through March 1. However, you'll often find Matt, Tim or myself here much later than 10 a.m. If you know you're going to be here at a certain time and need to meet with one of us, just call ahead and make arrangements with us, and we'll be happy to work with you.

Have a great day!

Sunday afternoon...

Just wrapping up a few things at the dock for the day and thought I'd write a quick update...

Not much happening here this weekend, although there were some hunters in and out. Bill Allen and Craig Mincke both got bucks opening morning. So far they're the only two I know about. Matt hunted in Ava with his dad and brother... He hasn't gotten anything yet. I'll just be glad when the season is over! I'm hearing gunshots from dawn 'til dusk. Yikes.

Speaking of hunters... Roger Lee told me the fire department served 202 dinners last night at its annual hunters' dinner. WOW! That is awesome. I haven't heard how much money they netted, but it sounds like it was a great fund-raiser for them.

The water is officially off at the dock. It did get below freezing a couple days last week (and now today it's like 75 and sunny... what??). I hope you've made arrangements for winterizing your boat if you haven't done it yet.

In the next couple weeks you'll be getting the final newsletter of 2007, plus your oh-so-fun renewal info with your slip rental price for next year. Just a heads up.

AND... I guess that's it for now. Oh! I talked to Mike Cochran yesterday. All the way from Iraq. He sounded good. Said he's coming home the first of December. Looking forward to seeing him.

And last but not least... GO TIGERS!

Autumn has arrived... are you ready?

Hey everyone! Once again, sorry I've been absent for a while. Been BUSY! So, here is what you need to know...

The chili cook-off on Oct. 27 was lots of fun. We had 15 entries. Last year's champ, Skip Dechau, tied for first with Bob Gunkel! It was quite a showdown. Bob set out to beat Skip. So it was so appropriate that they tied. Kathy Fourcault won for most original recipe. And Kelly Laurie won for the most-likely-to-set-your-mouth-on-fire hottest chili. It was also a Halloween party--a few people were festive and came in costume. I think a good time was had by all!

Have you seen the weather forecast for P-town? If you haven't made arrangements to winterize your boat, I would strongly suggest you do so asap. Temps are predicted to get below freezing the next couple of nights. I know Roger Lee (Stateline Marine) has been busy doing winterizations the past couple weeks. If you're planning to have him to yours, and you haven't called him, you should do it NOW! His number is 417-839-3084. Or, if you're doing it yourself or having someone else do it, you should get it done. This cold weather snuck up on us, as usual, and I just want to make sure you're all prepared. Also on that note, we'll be winterizing the water at the dock probably this week. So keep that in mind if you're coming down to stay on your houseboat, or use the water to clean your boat. There won't be any. Sorry. Click here to see the latest forecast from weather.com.

The Pontiac/Price Place Volunteer Fire Department is having its annual Hunter's Dinner this Saturday night at 5 p.m. For a $6 donation for adults, or $3 donation for kids younger than 10, you get turkey, dressing, and all the trimmings, plus dessert and a drink.

Let them eat CHILI!

A couple reminders for the chili cook-off and Halloween party tomorrow night at Charles and Lisa Luna's garage... The chili tasting starts at 6:30 p.m. If you're making chili, please arrive by 6:00 so we can get everyone situated before the hungry crowd gets there. Please bring a ladle for your chili. We should have plenty of extension cords and power strips. However, if you have one that you would like to bring for your slow cooker... bring it! We need as many as we can get. PCM has all the fixin's for the chili, plus a keg o' beer and a non-alcoholic beverage, too. You may bring a dessert if you'd like. Cost to eat is $5 for adults; $3 for kids. (Chili makers eat for free.) Anyone who eats gets to vote on his or her favorite chili. Winners take home cash prizes!

ALSO... it is a Halloween party! So you can wear costumes! Kids and adults! I'm dressing up! It's going to be so fun! We'll have a costume contest later on in the evening. If you can't come up with a good idea, no worries, you'll still be allowed to come in. :)

If you have ANY questions, please let me know!

Mother Nature is our pal

Well, it seems we dodged the bullet again last night. Thank goodness for that! I'm sure many of you are aware of the severe weather that passed through the Ozarks last night. Some of you probably rode out storms at your own homes. I hope everyone is safe and sound this morning. Other than a bit of debris on the roads, a few misplaced trash cans and some trash in the fuel dock this morning... all is well at PCM.

The Scoop

(Left) Last year's Chili Cook-off winner, Skip Dechau, modeling a great costume idea for the Halloween party on October 27.

Okay, so I've had several people ask me about the details for the Chili Cook-off and Halloween party, coming up on October 27. So here's what you need to know... It's going to be held at Charles and Lisa Luna's garage. They were kind enough to let us do it there last year, which worked out great, and they've agreed to let us have it there again this year! (If you don't know where that is, just ask me.)

If you'd like to enter your chili, all you need to do is bring a crock pot (something that can plug in and stay warm) of your best recipe, and a serving ladle. We're going to open the tasting at 6:30 p.m., which means the chili makers should arrive at 6 p.m. to set up. PCM will provide all the fixin's for the chili -- cheese, crackers, etc. Plus we're donating a keg of beer and non-alcoholic beverages, too. If you're not making chili, but you'd like to contribute something, feel free to bring a dessert. Cost is $5 (all you can eat) for adults; $3 for kids. Anyone who eats gets to vote. Winners take home cash prizes!

Remember, this is also a Halloween party, so we encourage you to be festive and wear a costume; however, you certainly don't have to dress up. The Halloween party will go on into the evening, and there will be a costume contest for kids and adults.

If you do plan to enter the chili contest, please shoot me an e-mail or give me a call, so I can have an idea of how many crocks of chili we'll have this year. Last year we had 20!! It was a great turnout. Skip Dechau took first place... Who's taking on the challenge this year???

Hellooooooo!!

Sorry I've been absent for a while... I just haven't had much to write about. But here goes...

First of all, we're open 8am to 5pm daily and will be through the end of the month. Jackie's is open 3-10pm Wednesday and Friday... AND you should know she is not serving pizza on those days. Pizza only on Saturday and Sunday. And she is open for breakfast, lunch and dinner on Saturdays and Sundays, although the kitchen does close early on Sundays.

The Chili Cook-off and Halloween party is 16 days away and counting! Have you picked out your costume yet???

Fishing has been pretty good. Matt caught a couple crappie a few nights ago. Yum.

That's all for now. Have a good evening!

Matt the Trash Man

This is the pile of trash Bill Adams, Dennis Kroeker and Orville Vogt picked up on Saturday. Click here to see more pics from the Pontiac Lake Clean-Up and Full Moon Party. (Oh, and thank you to Sharon Davidson, who took some of these pics.)

Clean-up Wrap-up

The Pontiac Lake Clean-up was Saturday. We filled two truck beds with garbage. Bill Adams, Dennis Kroeker and Orville Vogt collected a big bunch of it. They brought in three big Styrofoam blocks that were pretty water-logged. Matt loaded all the trash into the trucks at the launch ramp, and let me tell you, I wasn’t sure if he was going to be able to get those things into the truck bed by himself. That’s how heavy they were. Those guys also brought in several old tires, and some other garbage.

Gary and Cindy Peterson, Jessica and Gabe Blackburn, and Eric and Cathy Callahan also brought in a lot of trash—including the kitchen sink. Literally. They found a kitchen sink AND a refrigerator. The fridge was too big to haul back, so they just brought the door back as proof. Susan Dieckhaus found a barbecue grill that was dumped at Gulley (Gooley) Creek. Other participants included Micky Iseminger, Lynda Dunsmuir and her granddaughters, Nina and Ashton; Lynne Akins and her family, and several others. We collected about two-thirds as much garbage this year as we did last year. A lot of folks told me there just wasn’t much out there, which tells me people are picking up after themselves (and others) on a regular basis. Thanks to everyone who helped out!

Afterward the Pontiac/Price Place Volunteer Fire Department served hamburgers, hot dogs, potato salad, baked beans and dessert at the park. They raised about $400 for the fire department. Bob Kirgan, Ted Gutweiler, Shirley Sanders, Bill Richardson, Roger and Debbie Lee, Chuck Wilson, Georgianna Dorell and Vita Curvey were there to help. (I apologize if I forgot anyone!)

Larry Wallace and the Outlaws entertained us with their music. All in all it was a fun day and night. I'll post pictures later on.

Cheers!

Where's the pot o' gold?

Late this afternoon a little storm blew through, bringing with it some very strong wind gusts and a quick rain shower. Afterward the sun came out and the roads were steaming. This rainbow appeared, and you could actually see the other end of it, too. I just couldn't capture the whole thing in this pic. Pretty neat.

Lake Cleanup/Full Moon Party THIS SATURDAY!

Don't miss out! Picking up trash is LOADS of fun! Didn't you know? Well, okay, so maybe picking up trash isn't normally your idea of FUN, but it is a great way to give back after a season full of fun on the lake. Plus, we've got a fun picnic and party planned in the park following the cleanup. The Pontiac/Price Place Volunteer Fire Department is grilling up burgers and hot dogs, sides, dessert and drinks for only a $6 donation for adults and $3 for kids. Food starts at 5:00. Then, Larry Wallace and the Outlaws are playing from 5:30 to 9:30. These guys (and gals??) have always put on a good show for us in the past. They're a little bit (okay... a LOT) country, and they are great. The forecast looks good... 80 and sunny during the day, upper 50s for a low... It's going to be a great weekend all around.

We hope to see you here!!

Catching Up

Sorry I haven't written anything in so long! Needless to say it's been pretty quiet here since Labor Day weekend. The air temp is still getting very warm during the day. But the chilly nights have caused the water temp to drop in the past few weeks. It's probably upper 70's, maybe 80 degrees in some places.

Our hours continue to get shorter... This week we are open 8am to 6pm Monday to Thursday; 8am to 7pm Friday; 7am to 7pm Saturday; 7am to 6pm Sunday. Next week may be different. I'll keep you posted.

Don't forget to let us know if you plan to attend the Lake Cleanup next weekend so we can plan for the food!

VID's (very important dates)

Sept. 29: Pontiac Lake Clean-up and Full Moon Party (pick up trash during the day/party in the park starting at 5:00)

Oct. 27: Chili Cook-off and Halloween/Costume Party

More details later...

Fantastic Forecast!

Today is still a little dreary in P-town. We have gotten some much-needed rain over the past few days. But check out the forecast for the next 10 days -- click here. Nice!

So there really are fish in Bull Shoals...

Skip and Angie Dechau went fishing on this cloudy, rainy day and caught dinner! Four nice kentuckys. Not bad!

PCM hours

Open daily 7am to 7pm. The hours will continue to get shorter, maybe even on a weekly basis, so be sure to check with us regularly. Thanks!

Correction

I wrote earlier in the week that Ed Duffin was taken to the hospital via ambulance for heat exhaustion after helping fight the fire on Monday... I just found out that is not true. Apparently he was treated on-site for exhaustion. But he did not go to the hospital. Sorry about that, Ed!

The Last BIG Hurrah

Wow. What a crazy weekend that was. We couldn't have asked for better weather. It was gorgeous, sunny, not too hot, and no rain -- although we still desperately need the rain. Everybody and their brothers, sisters, aunts, uncles, kids and dogs were in town this weekend. I heard several folks say they'd never seen the lake so busy. And I believe it.

In Labor Day Monday news... The woods at Gooley (Gulley) Creek caught fire yesterday, and from what I was told it was quite a fire, and it spread very quickly and threatened a few homes. The fire was headed toward Lynne Akins' home (her son, Aaron, works at the dock), and they were pretty scared. Thankfully the wind shifted the fire away from their house. A lot of volunteers were there helping -- Pontiac, Timber Knob, Theodosia, Oakland and Gainesville fire departments responded, and so did the Conservation Dept. and the Corps of Engineers. Rumor has it the fire was started by people camping at the creek. Shame, shame. Seriously people... when it's this dry, be smart and don't light a fire. Sheesh. Thank goodness everyone is okay. Although I did hear Ed Duffin was taken to the hospital via ambulance... for heat exhaustion or smoke inhalation... I hope he's doing better today. I haven't heard.

So anyway, besides the fire, Labor Day weekend came and went without incident. And alas, summer is winding down. We've changed our hours: 7am to 7pm Sun-Thurs; 7am to 8pm Fri-Sat. And they will continue to get shorter throughout the month. I'll keep you posted. Also, Jackie is back to her off-season hours. She is open 3-10pm Wednesday and Friday; 8am to 10pm Saturday; 8am to 6pm Sunday.

Now, just because Labor Day is over doesn't mean there is no more lake fun to be had this year... Don't forget the Pontiac Lake Cleanup and Full Moon Party is Saturday, Sept. 29. I'll have more details for you soon. And also the chili cook-off will be coming up in a couple months -- a date and more details will follow on that, too.

Have a nice (four-day) week everyone!

Got Gas?

Or should I say... Do you need gas? Just a quick note to let you know our fuel price has DROPPED to $3.249 per gallon. Fill 'er up!

Huge Labor Day SALE!!!

Have you been eyeing a PCM t-shirt this summer but just couldn't quite pull the trigger? Well, now you have no excuse! Starting Friday, all t-shirts are 20% off. AND the shirts that are already on sale are BOGO (of equal or lesser value) FREE! That's right! (That's buy one get one FREE!) We want rid of all shirts before year's end so we can make room for the 2008 designs... and we promise they will be better than ever, including tanks, short-sleeve and long-sleeve tees, plus some original designs by an artist friend. (Yep, I did say we were doing that this year... and it didn't happen... sorry... but we really are next year!)

Plus... all tubes, skis, wakeboards, kneeboards and life jackets are also 20% off THIS WEEKEND ONLY!!

AND... we're not finished yet... All Caribbean Breeze products (that includes sunscreen, suntan lotions, after sun lotions, etc.) are also 20% off. Stock up now for next season!

This is one heckuva sale! We NEVER do sales. So you better take advantage of us -- er, I mean, take advantage of THIS SALE before it's too late. :)

Just a note to let you all know Pat Murphy passed away last Sunday. Bill and Pat are long-time dock customers and Pontiac residents. The family has chosen to have a private service. I will keep you posted if I hear any more details. If anyone has a good picture of Pat will you please e-mail it to me? Thank you. She will be missed.

Pic 1 - Lost Cove Resort

I stopped by Lost Cove Resort on Tuesday (to pick up Paul and drag him to his first Missouri Bull Shoals Lake Association meeting), and I got a quick tour of Cabin #1... almost finished! Then I saw him today, and he said the appliances are in, and the furniture is arriving on Tuesday. He and Carol may have their first renters Labor Day weekend!

Pic 2 - Living Room

Pic 3 - Kitchen

NEW HOURS

It's just a minor change, but with things slowing down considerably through the week since school has started we have decided to start closing at 8 p.m. Sunday through Thursday. So here goes...

7am to 8pm Sun-Thurs
7am to 9pm Fri-Sat

These are our hours from now through Labor Day. We will be open until 9pm the Sunday of Labor Day weekend. And we will start closing at 8pm daily starting Labor Day Monday, Sept. 3.

Questions? Let me know!

Mark your calendars...

It looks like the Pontiac Lake Cleanup & Full Moon Party is going to be September 29. Activities will be similar to last year... We'll clean up the lake during the day, then have a picnic and party in the evening. Details are not yet worked out. I'll keep you posted.

Don't forget...

... tomorrow is National Marina Day. You know what to do.

Hang on Ladies!

(Photo by Kristy Laurie): Who's that stud on the jet ski giving rides to and from the shore at the Blowout last Saturday? Is that legal? Somebody better call the water patrol...

If you can't take the heat... go jump in the lake!

The 10-day weather forecast for P-town is BRUTAL. Check this out. A hundred degrees the next five days! I know other parts of the state/country are also experiencing the dog days of summer. We're not the only ones. We're just lucky we have a giant pool (a.k.a. the lake) in our backyard so we can stay cool! I hope those of you who work outside are taking good care of yourselves and drinking LOTS of H2O.

Take this Dog Days of Summer Quiz to see how much you know about summer.

Blowout 2007

Click here to see more pics from the Blowout. Thanks to Kristy Laurie for sharing her pics with me. She took about half of these.

National Marina Day: Celebrating America's Gateways to Boating

This Saturday, August 11, is National Marina Day. So just for fun if you come in anytime from 7am to 9pm this Saturday and mention National Marina Day you'll get a free bag of ice! You must be a dock customer at PCM. Only one bag per family/boat/slip. You get the idea. Click here to learn more about National Marina Day. Cheers! See you Saturday.

Is it really over?

THANK YOU to everyone who came out yesterday afternoon for the 28th annual Blowout. Great weather. Good food. Lots of fun. I'll post pictures soon.

BLOWOUT reminders...

Bring a chair... if you want to sit on shore.
Bring a side... if it's feasible for you.
Wear your swimsuit.
Wear sunscreen. It's going to be HOT.
Remember, we eat at 2 p.m.
Music is from 2 to 6 p.m.
Bring some cash if you want to buy raffle tickets (proceeds for fireworks 2008).

Questions? Give me a call, e-mail, or stop by the dock. See you tomorrow!

Blowout this Saturday...

A little snippet of what you have to look forward to this Saturday afternoon... :0)

Big Daddy

Mrs. Brenda Kankey had the biggest catch last night... Look at the size of those chompers!

Mike Cochran, Brenda and Larry Kankey, Skip and Angie Dechau, Josh Simpson, Pat Godwin, Bob Gunkel and Matt were the catching crew last night. Click here to see all the pics from the crawdad hunt. (Oh, and check out the snapping turtle Josh caught while looking for crawdads... He was awfully feisty.) Remember, the boil is tonight, 7:00, at the pavilion in the park. Anyone and everyone is welcome. Bring a chair. Bring a beverage. Bring a dessert (if you want!!), but it's not necessary. Just come down and have fun!

Doggie Doo

I was just looking back at some old blog posts, and I noticed a comment from (I believe) a few weeks ago! I apologize for not responding to this sooner... An anonymous person commented that some folks are not cleaning up after their pets leave a "mess" on the new dock. Please, please, please take care of this if your pet does this. There are 84 boat owners sharing that space. Allowing your pet to leave presents for your neighbors and then not cleaning it up is not a nice thing to do. And that goes for any person on any dock, not just the new dock.

Crawdad Boil this Thursday night!

Mike Cochran is home! At least for a little while... He is set to leave again August 9, to head back to Iraq. If you haven't seen him and hugged his neck, I suggest you do so asap! He just stopped by my office and informed me the crawdad boil is THIS WEEK! Everyone is going to the river Wednesday night to catch them. If you want to help catch them meet at the dock around 8:00 Wednesday night to carpool and caravan over there. If you plan to get in the water don't forget to bring a towel and maybe a change of clothes. If you have a mask/goggles and a dive light, bring those, too. The boil is Thursday night at 7 p.m. at the pavilion in the park. For those of you who haven't been before... the boil includes crawdads, corn on the cob and potatoes. If you'd like to bring another side or dessert, please do so. Also, BYO beverages and a lawn chair. Mike says if you can't help catch, and you don't have time to make a dish or dessert... it does NOT matter! Please come anyway! The more the merrier. And if you think you're anti-crawdad, at least give them a try. They really are quite tasty.

WATER, WATER, WATER!

The electric problem on the new dock is fixed! The water will be back on first thing tomorrow morning. Again, I apologize for the inconvenience. Thank you so much for your patience.

New Faces

Okay, so I don't have pictures to post at this time... But I'm sure you're wondering who some of the newbies are pumping your gas at the dock this summer. The tall blond-headed young man is Spencer Wade. A-ha! Another Wade! Yep, he is Matt's first cousin. He is a student and plays baseball at York College in Nebraska. He'll be with us through mid-August. You all know Sam... he's been with us for several summers now. (He is a sophomore at Central Missouri State University in Warrensburg, in case you didn't know.) His younger brother, Lucas, is new at the dock this year. He has curly hair and looks like Sam! The other new young man helping us this year is Rice Voss. His family has been enjoying the lake since before he was born! He and Lucas are both high school students at Gainesville. And finally, Jana Engstrom is a brand new employee. She is Aaron's older sister -- Aaron has been with us a few summers now. Jana is picking up a few shifts a week -- she already has a full-time job! So... there are their names! I'll try to get them to let me take their pics, and I'll post them here soon.

Body of Keith Akridge found

I just heard this morning... Apparently divers recovered the body of Keith Akridge last night. Click here to read about it.

28th Annual Blowout!

I've been working on a summer newsletter, which includes details on our upcoming customer appreciation party, among other things. And I'll have it in the mail by tomorrow. However, I thought I'd go ahead and let you know the date and details so you can mark your calendar and plan to be there.

The Blowout is set for Saturday, August 4. As many of you know, we changed things up a bit last year by moving it out of the sweltering park to a lakeside location. The turnout was great, the feedback even better. Almost all of you came by boat and stayed in the water all afternoon. We provided meat and beverages, along with music by a local D.J. It was an afternoon event that ended by 7-ish. Since we had the Blessing picnic in the park back in April this year -- when it was cool enough to enjoy it -- we've decided to have the Blowout lakeside once again this year. We'll give you the exact location a little later. Just plan to spend the day with us on August 4. If you'd like, you may drop your side dish at the dock Saturday morning, and we'll transport it to the site so you don't have to try to bring it by boat. We suggest you use disposable dishes, and please bring a serving utensil if your dish requires one.

We look forward to seeing you there!

Questions? Ask me. Cheers!

Sad news...

As far as I know the body of Keith Akridge, the missing person from Saturday night's boating accident, was not recovered today.

Click here to read an update on KTLO's website. Douglas Rogers (Mammoth Spring, Ark.), the passenger in the bass boat that was involved in the accident, died this morning at St. John's Hospital in Springfield.

Well folks, I still don't really have anything new to report on the boating accident that happened Saturday night, or the search for Keith Akridge. This afternoon David Catanese, a reporter for Springfield television station KY3, and a cameraman came by the dock looking for answers about it. We really couldn't help them because we don't really know what is going on except that the search is still on. We suggested they go to Oakland, which is where, as we understood it, is the base for the investigation. However, they came back later looking to rent a pontoon to get out to the accident site, and Josh (boat dock employee) offered to drive them. David reported live at 5:00 from the road above the launch ramp at Pontiac. Based on his report, apparently some of the other victims involved in the crash were out on the water today assisting divers and others in pinpointing the exact place where the two boats collided, perhaps to better determine where they might recover the body.

That's really all I know. Keep the family and friends of Keith Akridge, and the other victims, in your thoughts and prayers.

Update

Click here to read an update on KTLO's website about the boating accident Saturday night.

Boating Accident

There was a boating accident on Bull Shoals Lake last night at the Missouri-Arkansas border near Pontiac. One boat involved was a bass boat carrying a father-son fishing duo. The other was a ski boat carrying at least six people. The driver of the ski boat is still missing. Search and recovery efforts are under way. A Pontiac first responder said five helicopters responded to the accident -- I believe four were Air Evac helicopters and the fifth was involved in the search of the missing man. I found this story on KTLO's website -- KTLO is a radio station based in Mountain Home, Ark. Click here to read what the radio station reported. I'll keep you posted as I learn more details.

Ooooh.... Ahhhhh....

This is from the Pontiac fireworks Sunday night.

And the winner is...

The fireworks were awesome last night! I've heard several people comment that they were the best ever. Great job to everyone involved. And those of you who made donations over the past year... you can pat yourselves on the back, too!

We drew for the $500 gift certificate to the marina, and the winner is Don Malter. He is a new dock customer this year. So congratulations to Don!

We also drew for 2-night stays to Roo-B-Doo, Cactus Ridge and Pontiac Lodge. Sonny and Dottie Stroud won TWO of those! Rich Delassus won the third.

And finally, we drew for the patriotic quilt that was made and donated by Cheryl Mattingly. Micky Iseminger won that! She is a lucky gal. (You might recall she also won a $100 gift certificate to Just Jackie's at the Blessing.)

Helpers Wanted

We are lucky to have a good group of folks helping set up the fireworks display this afternoon. Bill Bauer, Jerry Conner, Skip & Angie Dechau, Brenda & Larry Kankey, Dennis Kroeker... and I know I'm forgetting a few... Anyway, if you would like to help clean up tomorrow you can check in at the marina in the morning. It doesn't take long if there are several people helping. So, if you're bored, it might be something REALLY fun for you to do! All helpers are much appreciated.

2:45 p.m. Fireworks a go.

Fireworks are ON!

It is now 12:45 p.m., and I've just been told the fireworks are still a go. Puhleeeeeaaaase let the rain stop and the sun shine!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Rain, rain go away...

As of 7:45 this morning the Pontiac fireworks are still on for tonight! Well... a group of volunteers are getting ready to start setting up anyway. Optimism. It's dreary and rainy, and the radar doesn't look great this morning. BUT, it's early. We're a little less than 14 hours from go time. (The fireworks are scheduled for about 9:30 tonight.) A lot can happen between now and then! Stay positive. And stay tuned.

Electricity Woes: Update #1

Josh -- in full scuba gear -- swam the underwater electric line at the new dock today, and he found the problem! In simple terms, there is a break in the line. Not sure what caused it. But sure enough, it's there. It is fixable, but it will take some time. So... the water faucets and fish-cleaning table on that dock will be out of commission for a bit longer. Again, we are sorry for the inconvenience. Now that we have located the problem we are on it, and I promise we will have your water up and running again asap. Thanks for your patience!

Oh, and... NO SWIMMING, PLEASE. Not that I've seen anyone swimming over there, but I just want to remind you. It is not a safe swimming area. Especially right now.

Thanks! :)

The Golden Ticket

For those of you who have purchased raffle tickets (the blue tickets we've been selling since last year... one for $10 or three for $25), we will be drawing for the BIG winner Sunday morning and posting it at the marina. That is... we'll be drawing to see who wins the $500 gift certificate to PCM! We'll also draw for some other prizes, and we'll post those winners as well. If you haven't bought your raffle tickets yet, there is still time. You can buy them from Bill Bauer or myself through Saturday night. Good luck!

Who needs electricity?

Well... we all do. :)

Sorry for the inconvenience all day Friday and Saturday morning on the new dock. We are having electrical problems, and we're working on it. Everyone should have power at their slips now. However, the water and fish cleaning table is going to be out for a short while until we can fix the problem.

We don't know for sure of the cause. One possibility is a fish hook in the electric line. This is why we don't allow fishing from the dock. We'll find out soon and let you know. Again, thank you for your patience and understanding.

Bill Bauer informed me we have reached the $6,000 mark for the fireworks fund. That means we're going to have a 20-minute show next Sunday! Wow! It's going to be awesome. THANK YOU to everyone who has supported the fund-raising efforts. Without ALL of you this would not be possible.

Busy weekend. I hope everyone had a good one and enjoyed the sunshine.

One more thing...

I forgot to mention this earlier... Happy First Day of Summer! You may think it's flying by, but there are still 92 days left... Enjoy.

Stocking Up!

We just got a new shipment of the lovely and the oh-so-popular Caribbean Soul bags! Come by and see the new styles and colors. AND... we have a new ladies tee on the rack. It's super cute, too.

$3.399/gallon

Gas is FINALLY cheaper at the dock as of this morning! Down 20 cents. Woo-hoo!

Spearfishing Tourney Results

Forty-three divers entered the spearfishing tournament yesterday. The weather was perfect. Here are the results:





1st Place Catfish: Jason Copeland (38 lbs, 7 oz) - $330
2nd Place Catfish: Ricky Clark (29 lbs, 5 oz) - $165
3rd Place Catfish: Randy Boeddeker (16 lbs, 4 oz) - $55

1st Place Rough Fish: Jeff Jeter (8 lbs, 2 oz carp) - $220
2nd Place Rough Fish: Bob Benson (7 lbs, 12 oz drum) - $110
3rd Place Rough Fish: Roger Johnson (7 lbs, 1 oz carp) - $55

Big Walleye: Mike Rees (6 lbs, 12 oz) - $165

We also gave away about 20 prizes... the big one was a Cressi-Sub pneumatic spear gun from Scuba Doo Dive Shop in Mtn. Home, Ark. It went to Pontiac resident Skip Dechau.

(Jason Copeland is pictured above with the winning catfish.)

Click here to view more pictures from the spearfishing tournament.

The Lake's Arisin'

Hey all. FYI, the water is over the lower road... again. So we have it roped off. Please be mindful of this. The current lake level is 657.6, and according to the Corps of Engineers website it's supposed to go up another tenth of a foot by tomorrow. Who knows after that. So far it's really not a big deal. It isn't much higher than it has been the past month... just high enough that it has spilled over the road and made things slightly difficult for us here at the main walkway. :)

This will make you chuckle... The last time the lake was over the road a bit, a certain young lady innocently asked if we could pump the extra water "somewhere" ... I won't tell you who said this, as I'm sure she would be a little embarrassed. But it gave me a good laugh anyway! Yes, that would be handy... but unfortunately... not possible. :)

Looks like this weekend is going to be beautiful! Warm and sunny. FINALLY!! If you're not entering the spearfishing tournament, you should still come on down to Hollingsworth Cove to see the weigh-in from 1 to 3 p.m. Saturday.

Anything for a cure...

The second annual Ozark County Relay for Life was Friday night, and the folks from Pontiac represented nicely. Recognize that guy, er gal, in the picture at left? Yep, that's Pontiac's favorite hula girl, Skip Dechau. "Skippy Lou" took the stage Friday night for the Lake Bums in the Queen of the Relay contest. Skip's wife, Angie, helped him prepare for the contest... she even polished his toe nails. Below: Team members Sue Klayman, Karen Eubank, Jessica and Gabe Blackburn watched.

The Pontiac Lake Bums sold raffle tickets for a custom-built 5-by-10-foot utility trailer, the materials and labor for which were donated by the employees of E-Z Loader in Mountain Home, Ark. Norman Eubank is a Lake Bums team member, he works at E-Z Loader, and he was responsible for the trailer idea. The team raised about $3,000 for the American Cancer Society with the raffle, bringing their total to nearly $5,000!! Woo-hoo! LeAnn Kinscherff won the raffle -- she's a dock customer. Congrats LeAnn! The total for the Ozark County Relay was about $114,000 -- the goal was $90,000 -- and that is incredible!

Norman was also recognized for completing the most laps—168 to be exact, or 42 miles. This is the second year he received that honor. Thanks to Norman and other dedicated walkers on the team, the Pontiac Lake Bums also won for the most team laps for the second year in a row. Way to go team!

Saturday was a beautiful day in Pontiac, and the lake was hopping. Sunday, however, wasn’t so pretty—well, I guess that depends on who you ask. It wasn’t a very nice day for sunbathing, but it was perfect for a Sunday afternoon nap or getting a line wet. We had our A/C off and opened the windows, which was very pleasant. It started out overcast, and when the rain started to fall a little after noon it seemed like it would never end (it finally did around 5 p.m.) When we checked it that evening our rain gauge showed that we got only one inch of rain, which we are certain is inaccurate. Maybe there’s a pin hole in the bottom of it. Maybe it’s time for a new rain gauge.

...more on the gas tax refund...

Here is some info from the BoatU.S. Government Affairs website:

Missouri: Recreational boaters can apply for a $0.17 per-gallon refund of state sales tax on either gasoline or diesel fuel purchased for use in their boat. An application form must be on file with the Missouri Department of Revenue before a refund claim may be filed. Original invoices and receipts must accompany the claim, and can be filed no later than one year after purchasing the fuel, or on April 15th - whichever date is sooner.

The application form, 4924, claim form, 4923, and Schedule A, Marine Fuel Purchases by County form, 4925, are all necessary for the tax refund and can all be downloaded from the Internet at: www.dor.mo.gov/tax/business/fuel/forms/. For more information, call (573) 751-7671.

REMEMBER: We have all these forms at the dock, too.

Pain at the Pump

Hey all. I think a lot of you already know this... but in case you do not... you can get $0.17 per gallon back from the state of Missouri for the fuel you buy for your boat. We have the forms at the marina. We try to remember to tell people about them. But sometimes we forget. So just ask us. It is a little bit of paperwork... and you need to save your dock bills (they show gallons, price per gallon, and total)... but it's worth it when you get that little bonus check in the mail! Just think... if you go through 1,000 gallons of gasoline this summer (maybe that's stretching it for some of you) you could get $170 back!! Not too shabby. So... keep that in mind as you cringe at your total when you fill your tank next time. We truly feel for ya. Cheers! :)

Meet your Pontiac Park attendants!

Have you noticed new faces in the gate house this summer? John and Guyla Roberts are from Mountain Home, Arkansas. They've been here since April, but perhaps you haven't met them yet. They're really nice people, and they're with us until early fall. It's looking like today is going to be a beautiful day! Get out and enjoy it!

A Few of Our Favorite Things (Part 1)

(Above left) Cool Bags: We now carry Caribbean Soul beach bags! They are great. Brightly colored works of art, these bags are big enough for all your lake gear, including big fluffy beach towels, and they are waterproof on the inside! So your stuff won't get wet, even if the outside of the bag does. They are selling fast, so get one now!

(Above right) Quaint Little T-shirts: People have been requesting these shirts, so we bought them in more colors and more sizes, including men's and women's. Hey, if the shoe fits...