Pictures Taken For You To Enjoy!

 Birds sitting on tree branches!

The Grand American Queen Back In Town Yesterday

Yesterday, the Grand American Queen showed up in our historic civil war town of Vicksburg, Mississippi.  Here are a few pictures I took and I hope you enjoy.  

Picture taken from Children's Art Park at Catfish Row of the American Queen's smokestacks reaching above the Vicksburg Riverfront Murals.  

A close-up of the Vicksburg Riverfront Mural of the Sprague (Big Mama) the largest steam stern-wheel towboat ever built for inland river service...up against the largest riverboat steamboat ever built today on the Mississippi River.

Looks like the embankment needs to be repaired

I took a picture of a cracks in the pavement and embankment.  Plans are in place to make improvements of the waterfront.  

A side view of the American Queen.

While there it started thundering so I took one more last picture before leaving. The Old Depot Museum in the background.  To the left you have the M/V Mississippi IV landlocked at the Jesse Brent Lower Mississippi River Museum. 

The Jesse Brent Lower Mississippi River Museum & Interpetive Center, Vicksburg, Mississippi.

The American Queen will return next Friday to our hometown for another day of tourists sightseeing our historic city.

Going Hog Wild In Mississippi

State's push to hunt feral pigs is needed and welcome!

The biggest threat from "outside agitators" these days in Mississippi comes from four-legged, long-snouted, two-tusked creatures with voracious appetites and no natural foes. 

Yes, non-native wild hogs are a serious danger to the state's leading industry, agriculture.  The feral pigs cause more than $66 million in property damage annually in the state, according to the MS State Extension Service.

Traveling in large groups called "sounders," they are wily, destructive beasts.  They can quickly level acres of row crops, devour fawns and the young of other native animals, and are adept at avoiding capture.

And the rapidly reproducing hogs continue to expand throughout Mississippi.  They are found in all 82 counties today versus just 23 counties in 1988, the Extension Service says. 

So it makes sense for Commissioner of Agriculture Andy Gipson to take on the issue, even if it's part of the incumbent's election pitch.  He announced at the Neshoba County Fair recently the "Commissioner's Wild Hog Challenge."

"We don't need to talk about it anymore.  We need to kill some hogs!" the Republican declared.

Hunters are encouraged to report hogs they harvest in August and September the the Agriculture Department, which has a website set up for submitting kills.  State law allows the hunting of the nuisance animals year-round, day or night, with no weapon restrictions on private land.  Hunters who want to enter the commissioner's competition  must report when and where they hunted the pig, along with sending a photograph and other details.

Each participant will be entered into a drawing for a $6,000 wild hog trapping system, and the slayer of the heaviest hog will earn his or her choice of two rifles.  Winners will be announced at the state fair in October.

As of Aug. 6, the state reported 367 wild hogs harvested from eight counties. 

Of course, the challenge is more a publicity stunt then a practical attempt to lower the hogs population.

The Mississippi State Extension Service advises "sport hunting along is not nearly as effective as trapping and killing" wild hogs, and the Agriculture Department says, "The purpose of the challenge is to raise awareness regarding these nuisance animals and their huge negative impact on agriculture."

But hunting more hogs certainly won't hurt.  Considering the vast numbers of native animals that mankind has over hunted to the point of extinction without even trying to do so, you figure it would work well with an intentional effort against a non-native species.

With the limited hunting restrictions, it can be fun a diversion and challenge for Mississippi hunters waiting for deer season, while at the same time addressing a needed public policy goal. 

Thus, we join with Gipson's sentiments and say to hunters, "Go forth and make bacon."

Flowers To Enjoy For Your Monday!

Zinnias

Hibiscus with raindrops!

Zinnia

Zinnia

Zinnias

Zinnias

Rosemary Bush & Periwinkle

At the Vicksburg Senior Center posting until I can get me a new laptop or computer.  I really miss posted everyday because it gives me something to look forward to.  Hopefully, it want be too long.  Until then...have a blessed Monday!

Some Pictures Taken In My Hometown

I went by the Louisiana Circle and just happened to see this turkey vulture (buzzard) flying and was so excited to finally get a picture of it with a train going eastbound yesterday in my hometown of Vicksburg, MS.  

While at the Louisiana Circle yesterday a Motor Vessel (M/V) was passing by northbound and getting ready to make a sharp turn in the Mississippi River here called Delta Point.   Could not get the name of the vessel because I found out my app FINDSHIP is down because of Network Error.  

A pulled out picture of a pretty and hot day yesterday in my hometown. 

This morning I went downtown and got a picture of the riverboat, America!  She will be here all day with her passengers touring our civil war town of Vicksburg, MS.  It was nice to finally walk back onto the waterfront since the Entrance/Exit had been barricaded because of the flooding of the MS River.   

Took a picture of the trees across from the waterfront in the Yazoo Diversion Canal and you can see how high the water came.

I am still without a computer so I will try to come downtown at least once a week to blog.  Hopefully, I can get one soon.  

Threaten Wildlife In Flooded Area North of Town

As deputies from the Warren County Sheriff's Office continue their patrols in Eagle Lake and other areas affected by the Yazoo Backwater Area flooding, they are encountering a serious hazard - DEER!

Warren County Sheriff Martin Pace said his deputies have experienced a high number of collisions with the animals as deputies patrol the levees and roads in the flooded area.  While some of the collisions have been serious, none have disabled any of the cars. 

"Because of the fact that we  routinely patrol rural areas, we do have incidents with deer in a normal year, but we average about four deer crashes per year in the rural areas,"  Pace said.  "This year, we have had 12 in the flood area along since February.  "None of them have involved a patrol car responding to a call where there was any speed involved.  These have all been low speed impacts, and most of them have been where the deer have actually run into the side of the car."

All of the collisions, he said, have occurred in an area from U. S. 61 at Redwood to a few miles north - Floweree Road, The MS 465 Levee and Eagle Lake northwest.  Eleven cars have been hit, he said.  One of the cars has been hit twice. 

Pace said the increase in incidents is the cause of the ongoing flood n the backwater area that has taken away much of the deer's habitat.  Pace said the deer have nowhere to hid when vehicles approach them, and then they panic and run into the road.

"It's just heartbreaking to see the wildlife suffering like they are," Pace said.  "The deer in that flooded area have no place to go.  They're huddling on the levees and when a patrol car or any vehicle comes through, sometimes it will cause them to panic, and you'll have 12 to 15 deer running from one side of the levee to the other.

In order to provide a law enforcement presence on the lake, Pace said, "We have no choice but to travel those levees.  Unfortunately, it's the only dry place these wildlife have to seek refuge.

"It's just a sad reality of having to put automobiles in an area where you have thousands of deer seeking refuge on the levee,"  Pace continued, "If there were any other way to get there, we would be doing it.  The levee is the only access to the area to provide law enforcement and protection for the people with property there."

Note:  Mississippi Governor Bryant is asking President Trump for Disaster Relief since flooding has been ongoing for five months now.  Excerpts taken from The Vicksburg Post. 

My Laptop Died

Got word yesterday that my laptop cannot be fixed so officially it is DEAD!  I will be coming down to the Senior Center when I can to post.  Hopefully, I can get one soon.  Have a nice day!  Marian

Computer Still Sick!

 

Looks like I will have to come down to the Senior Center to post on my blogs and hopefully soon I will be up and running.  Have a great week my blogging friends.  Marian

Women Hunters - Fast Growing Trend & Need Encouraging

Women Hunters – Fast Growing Trend and Need Encouraging

https://archerytopic.com/women-hunters/

ArcheryTopic.com

Checking In @ Senior Center

Will try to post at least once a week at the Senior Center and hopefully the computer doctor can get me up and running soon. 

My Laptop Crashed

I will not be blogging for awhile until I can get my laptop fixed.  Hope to be back online soon.  Marian. 😢

Hog Stampede!

Where A OWL Waits For You!

Riverboats America & American Duchess In Town Today

I love taking pictures of the riverboats from this spot on Washington Street looking down at The Old Depot Museum.  America on the left and American Duchess of the right with her pretty blue umbrellas!  

America and American Duchess from top of the hill.

America and American Duchess moored at the riverfront in the Yazoo Diversion Canal today near the railroad tracks.

America's passengers coming back on board after touring historical sights in town and at the Vicksburg National Military Park by bus.  

"The American Duchess"

I love this little red caboose parked near The Old Depot Museum with riverboats America on the left and American Duchess on the right.  

America and American Duchess moored real close to the Vicksburg Riverfront Murals.

Since our hometown is a civil war town, I took this picture of the "Welcome to Vicksburg" signage with the cannon in the foreground. I'm so glad we have a welcome sign now for all the passengers touring our historic town from the riverboats and tourists/visitors. Artist Drew Landon Harris did a great job of painting on the Washington Street building and was inspired by the topography of the Vicksburg area with the hills, valley, and tributaries.  Vicksburg:  The Key To The South!

Sunset On June 24, 2019 @ Mighty Mississippi River

Here are a few pictures I took yesterday evening as the sun was setting on the Mighty Mississippi River at my hometown of Vicksburg, MS.  

The white light you see is a train coming across the old Hwy 80 bridge late yesterday evening before I left.  I really enjoyed taking in the awesome sunset we had on Monday, June 24, 2919.