ShareBill Black, Superintendent at Fort Smith National Historic Site in Arkansas, has been selected as the new Superintendent at Ozark National Scenic Riverways in Van Buren, Mo. Black served in an acting capacity in the position for 4 months earlier this year, and takes the position permanently in mid-summer.
In announcing Black’s selection, National Park [...]

ShareText and Photos by Jo Schaper

A couple weeks ago when I went to Shannon County for the Current River public meeting, we stayed over because Eugene had work to do on the way home at Montauk on Sunday.
He and Steve Bost, the naturalist there, went off on some A/V maintenance issue, leaving me to [...]

ShareA couple of items came to our attention from the Current Local (Van Buren weekly newspaper) this week.
There will be an Elk Zone Landower Field Day May 19 from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the Quo da Riva Club near Paint Rock on the Current River. Sponsored by the Missouri Department of Conservation, [...]

ShareBy Jo Schaper
Current River State Park has been in a contentious limbo since a 780-acre portion of the old Alton Club/Jerry J. Presley Center was transferred from the Missouri Department of Conservation to the Department of Natural Resources-Division of State Parks in March 2008.
At an open house/picnic on April [...]

ShareJim Smith of Eminence’s CCTR and Wild Horse League, and the wild horses themselves have made the Wall Street Journal Online in an article about the problem of horse dumping in rural areas, and the controversy over establishing horse slaughterhouses in the U.S.
It’s a problem with no easy solution. Animal rights advocates believe horse [...]

ShareIt seems everyone has to comment before the National Park Service’s draft General Management Plan for Ozark National Scenic Riverways is issued, so naturally the Missouri House of Representatives has seen fit to get into the act.
This is a bit lengthy, but it is the best summary of the legislation which went into the [...]

ShareFor more information: 573-751-1010
JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. — The public is invited to bring their ideas to an informational meeting Saturday, April 28, in the gymnasium located in Current River State Park outside of Salem. The informational meeting will begin at 4 p.m. Light refreshments will be provided.
Current River State Park is currently under development. [...]

ShareTraveler friend and newly elected Eminence mayor, Jim Anderson, posted this on his Facebook page. Not sure where he got it, but it needed a wider audience. The message is quintessential Traveler Country. Take a look. Thanks.

ShareCongresswoman Jo Ann Emerson (8th District) will be holding a town hall meeting to discuss National Park Service issues this Saturday, February 25 from noon to 2 p.m. at the River Centre at The Landing in Van Buren.
By Jo Schaper
With the public release of the draft General Management Plan pending in the near future, the [...]

ShareOzark National Scenic Riverways has completed the internal review of the park’s General Management Plan.
“The park staff have completed their review of the 318 page document and have provided comments. These remarks have been compiled and submitted to the Denver Service Center planning team,” says Acting Superintendent Black.
Besides the park staff reviewing [...]