Over 60 enthusiastic kids, from 1 to 15 years old, came ready to fish in this year’s Kids’ Fishing Derby, held Father’s Day at the Kid’s Pond on the golf course. This year’s derby was sponsored by the Missouri Department of Conservation (DoC) and the Lake Thunderhead Fish Committee. As always, our lake community and some local businesses stepped up to help us put on this fun event. More on our sponsors a bit later.
As the event neared, the forecast for the day grew more and more grim with rain in the forecast, but when Father’s Day dawned, it looked like we’d have a decent chance of getting it in, along with a free meal afterwards. We hurried to get everyone fishing as quickly as we could.
As usual, The DoC provided the kids poles to fish and provided assistance in learning how to cast, etc. We missed our old DoC friend DJ who was not able to attend this year’s event. However, we’ll give him a break, as he had a good reason. He got married the night before. Our local officer Jake Myers, and Sullivan County’s officer, Katie Potter stepped up and did a great job! Thanks you two!
The kids got right to fishing and surrounded
the pond. Hardly a foot of space was to be found to fish once they all got going. The fishing was GREAT. The catching… well… it was slow. We’re not sure exactly why it was a bit slow that day, as the DoC had stocked fish for the event a few days ahead of the event. Might have been the incoming weather. Might have been other factors. But it’s a lesson all people who fish eventually learn. Some days they just don’t bite, even when the conditions seem perfect. Plenty of fish were caught, but more kids than usual were skunked (didn’t catch anything). We did have a really nice frog succumb to the wiggly worm, and a few nice crappie and some bass as well. Wandering around the pond talking to the kids, we found that despite the lack of fish on the lines, they were still having fun, as were the parents and grandparents who were along for the ride.
you so much!
Then… well, mother nature decided it was time for the fun to end. She brought a solid rain that chased everyone to the lake office basement for an early meal of tasty hot dogs, chips, with homemade cookies provided by friends of the fish committee. Thank you Mary Daniel, Greg & Sandy McKinney, Joy Jones and everyone else who helped. Sorry, I just couldn’t recall everyone who helped at the moment. Hy-Vee donated the buns for those hotdogs. Thanks Hy-Vee!
After the event, every participant got a new fishing pole from the fish committee, along with bobbers from Angie and Kevin Upton. Major donations from Chad Kenyon of Hometown Realty, Farmers Bank, Brian Ganzer Construction, Bill & Marge Krigbaum, Kerrie Rose, Larry & Karen Howard, Hometown Medical, and Andy and Becky Schurmann really helped support the event. Thank
Mark & Mary Daniel raised funds for the event at both the Golf Cart Poker Run & Boat Poker Run. So thank you for stopping by their station, grabbing a jello shot or two (please drink responsibly) and supporting the Kids’ Derby along the way.
Mary Frank of Shelter Insurance in Unionville, and lake resident, donated fancy cups that change color when something is poured in them. The kids loved them and I even saw a parent or two trying to talk their kids into letting mom or dad have the cup! Mary can hook you up for all your insurance needs, including watercraft insurance and more.
Our friends at Dairy Lane donated certificates for a free ice cream cone to all the participants. What a great treat! Thanks Dairy Lane! Folks if you haven’t tried Dairy Lane yet, you’ll love their ice cream, chicken and especially
Fishing Derby…
Cont. to page 3
Flag Committee Gets Assistance from Beach Lovers
Photo: With bad weather rolling in, the Flag Committee lowered the flag to protect the integrity of the flag pole. (Middle Photo): Once the flag was down, it was folded. (Bottom Photo): Flag raised at 5;30
With a weather prediction of high winds, the Flag Committee jumped into action to lower and fold our beloved Ameri-
can Flag from the flag pole at the dam. Lowering the flag was the easy part. Folding it was another matter with fewer
than ten people present. Fortunately, some parents and kids at the beach jumped into help. The flag was opened and folded by the adults with the assistance of some enthusiastic kids. If I may indulge myself here, it did this nearly 70-year old American patriot good to see how eager and enthusiastic the kids were to learn how to properly fold Old Glory.
Top
Board Meeting Minutes For July 9, 2024
Kerrie Rose called the meeting to order @ 5:30pm. In attendance; Kerrie Rose, Tiffany Scovel, Mike Vore, Ced Gilworth, and Rodney Weir. Public Correspondence – Angie Upton spoke about removing the post from Facebook regarding underage golf cart drivers as the comments were turning ugly. People feel that nothing is being done if the call the office or Rodney. Rodney stated that Missouri law requires anyone operating a LSV (low speed vehicle) must have a valid drivers license. Missouri law is different from Iowa law, and the county patrols the roads and could issue tickets. (County Sheriff, Deputy, Missouri Highway Patrol). Lake Security can not issue citations until they are on WCA property, such as Marina Road, road into North Beach, and campgrounds. Several people commented that maybe we should call law enforcement then to patrol, which was meant with opposition. We are asking parents & grandparents to follow the policy and not let anyone under 16 operate golf carts & side x sides. Rodney will try and post security near the beach to stop carts that appear to have underage drivers.
Laker Lady Bash on Aug 3, monies raised will go to fans for the bandstand, any extra will possibly go to Christmas decorations for the lake.
Mark Roberts WB065 addressed the board via Zoom that the garden on Beechnut Circle is on commons property with a permanent fence and mows it as if his and in violation of the covenants, and must be removed or he will proceed with litigation. Tiffany explained that it is actually unplotted WCA property, not commons, and the BoD at the time granted permission for the garden so long as it was maintained. There is a similar garden on Ironwood that is shared by neighbors. Mark Roberts also questioned how commons areas are being sold and where the money is. WCA does not sell commons area, however if neighbors who all adjoin the commons agree they can build docks to share, etc.
Secretary Report – Mike motioned to approve June minutes; Tiffany seconded.
Treasurer Report –Tiffany reviewed some numbers and motioned for approval; Mike seconded.
Committee Reports
Election Committee – No Report
A&E Committee –No Report Rules & Regulations Committee – Possibly write a policy with fines for jet skiers that are going thru slalom course.
Fish Committee – No Report
Dock Committee –No Report, although it was questioned who was on the Committee, cur-
rently it’s Tiffany and Rodney. Concern about speeding in and out of Pontoon Alley, please adhere to No Wake rules.
Commons Committee – Beechnut Circle had a lot of run off after the heavy rains, Rodney & SRD will look and see what can be done.
Entertainment Committee – No Report
Special Road District – Gene reports they signed a contract with Norris Asphalt to excavate and asphalt 2000 sq. yds. on North Wildflower at Sunflower hill and Beechnut Curve. A signed contract is in place with Vance Bros. to chip/seal 23000 sq. yds. of roads. No dates have been established but we will keep you posted. Keith Morris has been busy working on improving drainage and road bases on Bufflehead, Ebony, Beechnut, Ironwood, Sunflower, Dogwood and Magnolia. Next SRD meting is 7/12/24 at 10 am in office basement.
Lake Manager Re-
port – Rodney reported that the footings and placement of rocks at South beach have been delayed due to lake being above normal pool after recent heavy rains, and the cost to install has gone up to $22K. The West side beaches are still an issue as people are not following the rules. Fireworks debris, cigarette butts and other garbage were left behind after the weekend. Signs are in process of being made, but please be respectful when using the West beaches. Also, Sean hired the drone operators to try and spray lily pads, and unfortunately it was unsuccessful, so next year the lake will help by spraying from boat and splitting the cost of the herbicide. Rodney reviewed the bid received for having video done on the pipeline thru the dam, it is $7750. Kerrie motioned for approval; Tiffany seconded. Rodney will get the paperwork started and keep everyone appraised of date and outcome.
Dirt added to North side of dam that has recently been added was part of our DNR inspection. Foundation Recovery came to do their yearly maintenance and recommends additional drainage due to concrete decay; Rodney will get copies of quotes to the board for review.
Security Report – as discussed earlier will try and stop more underage golf cart drivers. Please make sure all guests understand the no wake rules, 100’ from all shorelines, and especially marked coves and Marina.
Old Business
Update on sale of misc. Lake Thunderhead property – per Ced 4 sales are pending for August.
Also, the developer is
working with DNR on sewar lagoon permits, Geo Survey and DNR/ Engineer work.
Discussion on new Storage Building(s) –Waiting on final quote for gravel & cement. Update on Pipeline Under The Lake – Discussed during Rodney’s report.
New Business Lot Consolidations/ Inactivation’s – 1 shoreline modification approved by A&E and now signed off by Board of Directors.
Misc. items of interest to the Association – Discussion of closed Board meeting to discuss financial information and docks.
Kerrie motioned to adjourn meeting at 6:18 pm, Ced seconded, meeting adjourned.
Tri State Lake Property Management
Fishing Derby…
Continued from page 1
their charbroiled burgers!
Randy & Tammy Parks were most generous and donated ice to the cause. Thanks guys. You’re a big part of the lake community and always seem to help out when something needs done. Would you please come clean my garage?
Lastly, Gage & Jake, our lake’s gas and bait gentlemen, also donated ice, along with the worms! Thanks guys. You provide a great service here at the lake and your donations were appreciated. Folks, don’t forget to tip these guys when you fill up your boat or get a dozen minnows or worms!
Next up for the fish committee is our Fall Bass Tourney. It’s scheduled for Saturday, September, 14th, at the North Beach bathhouse. If you are interested in sponsoring that event, providing something for the 50/50 drawing or registering for the event itself, please stop by the office. Registration forms should be available at the office around the 1st of August. After that we’ll have our wall-
eye stocking, sometime in late October or early November. That’s always fun. Keep an eye out for our posts on-line and via the lake office if you’d like to get in on the fun.
We wanted to take a minute here to wish our fellow fish committee members Larry & Cindy Krous a fond farewell. Larry & Cindy have been here at the lake a few years, but jumped right into the fray once they got here from Nebraska. They’ve both been very involved in the community and especially the fish committee. You’d recognize Larry from his role in the live launch order drawings. Anyway, they are pulling up stakes and moving to Florida to be closer to family and hurricanes. We’ll definitely miss them. Thanks for everything guys. Good luck in Florida. Oh and their place is still for sale here, right across from the Wulf’s. Give it a look if you are in the market. OK. That’s it for this time. See you at the fall tourney. Tight lines everyone.
Fish Committee Thanks Sponsors
Before we get started thanking the sponsors of our Spring Bass Tourney, held in honor of Woody Clapham and Bob Bryant, we just wanted to take a second to let you know that this article won’t feature any reporting on the Kids’ Derby, which was held AFTER the deadline for article submissions. So look for that article next month. Pictures and/or video has likely already been posted on our FB page.
Now on with this month’s business, properly thanking all who have donated to our cause so far this year, along with our spring tourney sponsors. Again, Kids’ Derby sponsors will be thanked in next month’s BeachComber.
We are very grateful for all of the amazing folks and businesses who have been so generous in their donations so far this year. The donations have been very helpful in successfully running our spring tourney and in planning the amount of fish to stock this fall. So thank you sponsors. We couldn’t do this without you.
In no certain order, here are our amazing donors: Alan & Audrey Cole, William Krigbaum, Dave Hester, Kathie Steveson, Tom & Linda Cox, Bob & Barb Bryant, Tim Bunnell, Marty & Janet Schmidt, and Tires & Tailpipes in Kirksville.
of Hometown Realty donated a gorgeous hanging basket & Hy Vee donated a $50 gift certificate. Plus the Unionville Republican donated an amazing embroidered US flag. All were donated to the 50/50 drawing. Larry & Karen Howard also donated to the drawing.
In addition to the above, Ben Daniels of LakePropertiesForSale. com donated several lures to the drawing, as well as custom cups, plus trophies for the winners, plus plaques for our two honorees. Bill Krigbaum donated a humorous sign. The Laker Ladies donated two signs, and lots of yummy desserts for the meal. MFA Oil donated a hat, oil & windshield washer fluid.
Other donors include, Rick & Kim Wulf, Greg & Sandy McKinney, Joy & Forrest Jones, Bob & Barb Ryner. The Joneses donated our new megaphone which proved to be MUCH better for launching the boats at the tourney. Joy took the reins of the meal and did a fantastic job.
phy and prize money to our event. Thank you, John! We can always count on you. Incidentally, the Big Fish was caught by Tim Gusick. It weighed 7.83 pounds. We had several really nice fish this spring and multiple boats catching their 6 fish limit.
Terri Nelson of Nelson Appliance, made a nice donation as well. A lot of folks asked her if Nelson Appliance is still open for biz. The answer is YES! Just pop over to Lancaster for all your appliance needs and more.
Randy & Tammy Parks, along with Angie and Kevin Upton, donated ice to the tourney! The coldest ice we’ve ever had.
always.
Once again we had an amazing crew heading up the meal. With Mary Daniel out of town (she’s the glue of our operation) we were counting on a somewhat new group of folks to run the meal, along with some regulars. Nary a beat was missed. The food was great! It was so well received we had a huge line. No one seemed to mind as they knew what great food was in store for them.
In fact, we should quickly thank Mark, Mary, Rick & Kim for all they did prior to the tourney to make sure all heck didn’t break loose in their absence.
Jason Hollenberg, Bill Lane & Roger Richardson also donated to the cause.
Mary Daniel of Main Street Styling donated a great basket of hair care products. Renee Morris
Steve Benson of Hometown Realty also made a generous donation, along with providing the roses for Mary Clapham & Barb Bryant for their amazing contributions to the Fish Committee and lake in general. Oh, while Steve was at Appleseeds ( it’s still for sale if someone wants an amazing local business) he made sure Doris got a really nice bouquet for Mother’s Day. You’re welcome, Doris!!
John Sutter once again donated the Big Fish tro-
Tim Messman of Smithfield Foods, donated half a hog for the meal, and teamed up with Andy Schurmann to smoke it overnight prior to the tourney, as well as getting it all pulled and ready to go for the meal. It was very tasty guys!! Thank you! Oh and many, many thanks to Andy for emceeing our event this spring. Mark & Rick were unavailable that day, and we were afraid Bruce would make too many bad Iowa State jokes. Despite not getting much sleep while smoking the hog, Andy did a GREAT job.
Thanks to Rodney and the maintenance guys for getting the beach house all ship shape, as well as the beach and picnic tables ready. Thanks to Ferne & Kim for managing the early registration paperwork and money, and more. Well done as
As always, if you would like to donate to our cause, please feel free to drop a check or cash at the office. Ferne and Kim do a great job of keeping track of it for us, and getting it in the bank so we’re ready when it comes time to pay for our fish stockings. And NO, fish don’t wear stockings, we know that.
Please forgive us if we missed someone who donated in this article. It was a bit crazy the day of the tourney with us shorthanded and a handful of donations coming in that day. If we missed you, please let one of us know so we can correct that in a future article. Look for info on the Kids’ Derby next month and don’t forget the Fall Tourney will be held September 14th at North Beach. Walleye stocking will be in late October or early November, most likely.
Tree Service Tree Trimming Stump Grinding Tree Removal Tree Pruning Storm Work ~ 24/7
Please come to hear Pastor Kevin Collins bring you a reassuring word from God.
Thanks all. Tight lines everyone! Sunday Morning Bible Study for ALL Ages at 10:00 a.m. Sunday Morning Worship at 11:00 a.m.
On June 8 we had a great time at the pickleball clinic. About 20 people gathered to learn about pickleball and meet other players. The day started with an introduction of the rules and scoring. Then the players paired up and we played games. Most players stayed a couple
hours to practice, play, and socialize.
Saturday August 10th, there will be a doubles pickleball tournament starting at 9:00 A.M.
The tournament is limited to 8 teams. Registration is open until filled. To register, pick up and complete a form from the office. On the
other hand, you can register the day of the event. Balls are provided. Must bring own paddles. Registration is $20 per team. Remember. Pickleball is always the answer! So quit dinkin’ around and sign up soon before the tournament fill up. See you on the court!
22020 Blazing Star Court $449,000
Listing Broker: Ced Gilworth
So much history, as the owners were a part of the original developer of the lake. They have owned this property for 44 years, but life changes, and now you have a chance to own a property on the main body of Lake Thunderhead. The home has been gutted and is ready for you to make it what you want. The home consists of approx. 2700 sq feet, a two car garage, concrete drive, area for volleyball court, and a covered dock. The covered dock has a boat lift, pontoon lift, and two jet ski spots. There is also a swim platform. The lot has slope coming down the driveway but is one of the few low grade waterfront lots available. Electric, water and sewer are on the property, and again, the house is ready for you to finish the way you would have it. If you are looking for more room, the lot next to it is for sale as well.
20011 Painted Cup Drive
$57,500
Listing Agent:
Brian Quint
Welcome to Lake Thunderhead in Unionville, MO. This excellent lot is situated on Painted Cup Drive and is all set up and ready for a camper. The work has already been done for you with utilities installed, a covered deck, and a storage shed for all the extras. This lot is located in a great neighborhood in the Spring Beauty Addition. An affordable lake lot that is ready to go, don’t miss out on this opportunity
Listing Broker:
Ced Gilworth
Located in the Spring Beauty addition this cabin will be the enjoyment of your family for years to come. As you enter the property there is ample parking on the circle, gravel driveway. As you enter the cabin, there is a covered deck the full width and 12’ deep. What a relaxing place to hang out after a hard day on the lake. When I was out getting the listing, it was 90 degrees and still felt good with the covered shade. The home consists of 3 bedrooms, one bedroom on the main level, and 2 bedrooms upstairs. A bathroom on each level with a living room and gas fireplace. This house has a lot of space for a small footprint. Also included is a storage building and a garage. The lot has a combination of trees and open area, along with a flat area for parking and entertaining
Scott Ingersoll, (660) 626-8507
Kris Altiser, (660) 626-4960
David Mitchell, (660) 341-0902
Jalynn Shafer, (660) 988-1279 Darl D Davis, (660) 216-0639 Larry
Ron Davis (660) 341-5199 Nathan Wilt (573) 248-4406
Jason Andrew (660) 956-5060
Ryan VanGenderen (660) 216-8978
Brian Quint (660) 626-3419
Kevin Lloyd (641) 414-3504 (Lic. IA)
(660) 342-1427
Scott Whitworth (660) 341-2197
Golf Tournament Held July 18th
On Saturday, July 13 a golf tournament was held on the Lake course. Teams assembled at
the Lake Office at 9 am and after Entertainment Chair, Fred
presented the format and the rules teams teed off and played nine
Corn Hole Tournament Held Fourth Of July Weekend
(Top Photo) The Corn Hole Tournament was held at the North Beach.
(Photo Right): Organizers of the Corn Hole Tournament included Rocky Scovel and Ron and Jenny Pegram.
First place winners were: Steve Foulke, Fred McElwee, Cody Veach, Fred Hindenburg, and Doug James and Ronin James, golf consultant
Second place winners were: Brady Crook, Brian Crook, Ron Pegram and Rocky Scovel.
McElwee,
holes.
Lake Thunderhead Beachcomber
August, 2024
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Corn
Fun-Filled Fourth of July Weekend Was Had By All
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First Place winners were: Kurt Gause, Teresa Fenton, Jerry Munn and Betsy Munn
Second Place winners were: Tyler Curtis, Cooper Sanders, Bryce Bunnell and Tim Bunnell (not pictured). They won awards and a box of golf balls.
Inflatables
Beach, the band
terline at North Beach
First place winners in the Cornhole Tournament. (Sorry no names provided)
Third place winners in the Cornhole Tournament. (Sorry no names provided)
Second place winners in the Cornhole Tournament. (Sorry no names provided)
Hole Tournament Winners
Dennis’ Small Engine Repair & Service
We are now an ECHO Dealer! Gas powered Chainsaws, Weed Trimmer and more
Dennis Kroemer
27051 226th St. Unionville, MO
(just 5 miles south of Unionville in Lemons, MO.)
Debt/Credit Accepted
We Appreciate your business!
Office: 660-344-2254
Dennis Cell: 785-294-8059
Office: 641-437-SAVE(7283) Cell: 641-895-4166
Poker Run Winners Announced
Photo Above: Macyn Behrens, daughter of Matt and Babette Behrens was the winner of the Poker Run Kids’ Raffle. Photo Right; Ferne Kellison, winner of the Best Poker hand and a $600 gift certificate to The Store and Sara Daggett, winner of the worst poker hand and a $150 gift certificate to Leo’s Marina Bay Restaurant
Lake Thunderhead residents joined the fun on June 15 for the first boat poker run of the
season. Scores of participants collected their “poker hands” at North Beach and then proceed-
ed to five stops around the lake to draw cards and fill out their poker
hands. Sunshine and good times accompanied all who participated.
Nothing Lazy About August
Lots of Lake activities are available to lake residents in the coming weeks. Event, meeting place and contact information follows:
Sunday Church Services are held each Sunday through the Summer at 8 am at the North Playground gazebo
Book Club will meet
at the Unionville Library on August 15 at 1 pm. The book is Days On The Road; Crossing the Plains in 1865 by Sarah Raymond Herndon. The library is trying to get extra copies in for those interested.
Kayak club will meet for kayaking and ‘jaking’ on July 23 at Becky
and Craig Sayre’s home on the north end of the lake. Meet at 3:30. Bring your kayak and a snack for postkayak nourishment. Becky Sayre: 1-641-750-0216.
Widows By The Water will meet at Leo’s Marina restaurant at 5 pm on August 20 for friendship and fun.
Bible Study will meet at 10 am on Tuesday, July 23 at Becky Sayre’s home. We will be discussing Genesis chapters 9-11.
Lost Must Be Found
Folks have borrowed BUT NOT returned four long white folding tables from the lake office. These tables are not
cheap to replace. Please return them to the office, if you happen to have one. Thank you.
910
Please be sure to let the Unionville Republican know of any address change you have. We want you all to receive your Beachcomber. Also, please let us know if you are new to the lake or if you have sold your property at the lake.
Unionvillerepublican@mac.com or 660-947-2222
The Lake Is NOT The Place To Teach Your Kids To Drive!
Everyone wonders why we need stickers on our golf carts and side-by-sides. Primarily they are required so golf carts can be identified and attributed to homeowners.
The are one small step in insuring the safety of all lake residents of all ages. The hills and along Wildflower coupled with the sun at certain times of day make it difficult, at best, to see approaching vehicles.
Over the July Fourth weekend there were sufficient “close encounters” with automobiles to raise this issue to the forefront.
Parents should be aware that according to the covenants of Lake Thunderhead, they are responsible for how and who drives their carts. ALL golf cart drivers are required to be of legal driving age, age 16.
Lake Thunderhead roads are clearly NOT the place to teach preteens and tweensters how to drive. Golf carts are NOT baby sitters for parents who want some peace and quiet. They also are NOT toys to be put in the hands of children under the age of 16.
Please be responsible as parents and educate or inform your kids of responsible driving behavior before someone is critically injured. For the safety of all, we must insure that Lake rules are followed.
Be safe out there, folks!
Calling All Parrot Heads!
On Saturday, July 27, the annual costumed boat poker run will take place starting at 1 pm with poker cards distributed at the North Beach Bandstand.
In honor of Jimmy Buffet this year’s theme is “Margaritaville”. Get your decor, mix your drinks and prepare to party with a tropical flare! Five stops will be scattered around the lake and prizes will be awarded for Best and for Worst Poker hands.
Plan Now To Attend The Summer Bash!
The annual lake fundraiser, Summer Bash, will be held at the North Beach at 5:30 on Saturday, August 3.
Funds are being raised for ceiling fans on the stage at the bandstand. Any extra funds will be utilized to purchase holiday decor for the main Lake Entrance.
A ‘good will” offering for the dinner will be asked of all attending and will be served at 5:30. Dinner will include smoked pork butts, sal-
ad, chips and dessert and water.
A 50/50 raffle will also be held with prizes from local service providers and merchants. There also will be a silent Auction for larger items from local merchants. Some prizes include: Massages
Two $100 Lockridge Lumber Gift Certificates
A new Lawn car and auction of the original Lake Golf Course Signs. Don’t miss this fun event!
Just because things hadn’t gone the way I had planned didn’t necessarily mean they had gone wrong.
~ Ann Patchett
15 Fascinating Facts About 15
of the World’s MostVisited Tourist Sites
Think you know all there is to know about the world’s most-visited sites? One lesson that savvy travelers learn is that even the most wellknown landmarks — the ones that clutter our Instagram feeds and continue to attract millions of tourists each year — can still surprise you. If you’re curious about what purpose Times Square originally served, what other famous landmark Gustave Eiffel helped design, or what color the pyramids of Giza once were, read on to discover 15 things you never knew about 15 of the top tourist attractions on the planet.
New York City’s Times Square Wasn’t Always Called That For the most-visited tourist site in the U.S., New York City’s Times Square had humble beginnings. Once an area surrounded by countryside and used for farming by American Revolution-era statesman John Morin Scott, the area now known as Times Square fell into the hands of real estate mogul John Jacob Astor in the 1800s. By the second half of the 19th century, it had become the center of the city’s horse carriage manufacturing industry and home to William H. Vanderbilt’s American Horse Exchange. City authorities named it Long Acre Square, a reference to London’s historic carriage and coach-making district. This name remained until 1904, when The New York Times moved its headquarters to a lavish new skyscraper called One Times Square. Just eight years later, the newspaper relocated again to a nearby building, but the name Times Square stuck.
The Great Wall of China Isn’t a Continuous Structure
Built from the third
century BCE to the 17th century CE in order to keep out northern invaders, the Great Wall of China is considered the world’s longest wall, extending a total 13,170 miles. Although our mental image of the Great Wall is probably one of a continuous structure winding its way across China, the reality is different. The Great Wall is actually composed of various stretches of wall and watchtowers — often with gaps between. There are even areas where the wall is nonexistent. The original builders also made use of natural barriers to keep invaders out. As much as a quarter of the wall’s length relied on features like rivers and mountainous ridges to keep the marauding hordes back. Today, much of the wall is in ruins, but sections that date from the Ming Dynasty (1368–1644) can still be seen.
Las Vegas Is the Brightest City on Earth
About 80% of the world’s population lives in a place lit up by artificial light at night. And according to NASA, nowhere do those lights shine brighter than in Las Vegas. A city that loves its neon signs and bright marquees, Las Vegas offers an around-theclock dose of sensory overload — even New York City, “the city that never sleeps,” and Paris, “the city of lights” can’t match the over-the-top light show of Las Vegas when viewed from outer space. And in a city with so much artificial light, one manages to stand out: the Sky Beam atop the Luxor Hotel pyramid. It’s powered by 39 ultra-bright xenon lamps (each 7,000 watts) and curved mirrors that collect their light and focus them into the world’s strongest beam of light. Not only can it be seen from space, but the Sky
Beam provides enough illumination to read a book from 10 miles out in space.
Gustave Eiffel Helped Designed the Statue of Liberty
Even prior to the building of his namesake tower in Paris, Alexandre-Gustave Eiffel was already one of France’s leading structural engineers in the 19th century. Thus, he was a natural choice for New York Harbor’s Statue of Liberty, especially after the statue’s original designer died unexpectedly. Thanks to Eiffel, the statue’s interior boasts a more contemporary design. Eiffel came up with the idea of a central spine in the statue, which functions as a connector for the various asymmetrical metal girders that give the statue its shape. This innovative technique not only provides the framework for the statue but also creates a kind of suspension system that allows the monument to withstand winds and other harsh weather conditions.
The Great Barrier Reef Is So Large You Can See It From Space
Australia’s Great Barrier Reef is the largest coral reef ecosystem on the planet, covering an area of approximately 135,000 square miles. It’s not just the immense scale of the reef that makes it visible to astronauts in space, though. The contrast between the dark blue of the deeper parts of the ocean and the light turquoise of the lagoons on the other side of the reef makes it relatively straightforward to identify with the naked eye. But the pictures taken from space are valued for more than their aesthetic appeal. The MERIS sensor used on the Envisat satellite mission was a useful tool in mapping the extent of coral bleaching, the term for when stressed coral
has rid itself of algae.
The Grand Canyon Isn’t the Deepest Canyon in the U.S.
Given its name, it’s a common misconception that the Grand Canyon is the deepest canyon in the United States. The Grand Canyon is very deep — 4,000 feet deep, in fact, with the deepest point reaching 6,000 feet. This gives it an average depth of about a mile. But Hells Canyon, running along the border of Oregon and Idaho, exceeds the depth of the Grand Canyon by plunging nearly 8,000 feet in some places. While not the country’s deepest canyon, the Arizona landmark has other impressive stats: It extends for 277 miles and measures 18 miles wide. Totaling 1,904 square miles, this canyon is roughly the size of Rhode Island. And the national park there is visited by around 6 million people each year.
We Know of the “Lost” City of Petra, Jordan, Thanks to a Swiss Explorer
Once a thriving cultural and economic hub, Petra (believed to have been established around 312 BCE) was later abandoned and left to ruin. For centuries, all except the local Bedouin people forgot Petra — its tombs and temples carved directly into the sandstone cliffs were abandoned and buildings fell into ruin, hidden by the surrounding canyons. But in 1812, a Swiss explorer named Johann Ludwig Burckhardt set off on an expedition in search of the source of the River Niger. On his way to Cairo, he heard rumors from locals of secret ruins of a grand city in the desert, so he hired guides and disguised himself as an Arab to gain access to what was considered a sacred place, forbidden to Westerners. They brought him to Petra. However, wary of push-
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ing his luck too far, he didn’t stop to excavate.
Five years later, Burckhardt died of dysentery in the Egyptian capital, but his “discovery” paved the way for future exploration of the site.
The Golden Gate Bridge’s Color Was Supposed To Be Temporary
San Francisco’s Golden Gate Bridge features a distinctive reddish-orange paint color — but it came about by accident.
Architect Irving Morrow noticed that some of the steel that arrived for construction of the bridge was coated in a dark red primer, which inspired him to write a 29-page report in 1935 advocating for a similar color to be used in the bridge’s final design. Although most bridges at the time were painted gray, silver, or black, he suggested using paint in a shade like orange vermillion or burnt sienna, as these luminous tones would emphasize the grand scale of the bridge and provide a contrast to the grey and blue color of the water beneath. Not everyone agreed, but in the end, Morrow won over his critics. The bridge was painted a shade unimaginatively called “International Orange,” and it’s been the same ever since.
Machu Picchu’s Buildings Were Designed To Be Earthquake-Proof
The Inca people certainly knew how to build to accommodate their environment. That’s evident not only in Machu Picchu’s epic surroundings, but also in the foundation of the Lost City itself. Peru is located in a seismic zone, and the Incas were familiar with potential earthquakes. To protect against them, they made the buildings
of the citadel seismic-resistant by using precisely fit stones held together by gravity alone. Nothing so thin as a credit card could be inserted in the cracks, allowing the mortar-free stones to “dance” during an earthquake, only to resettle back into place once it ends. Additionally, the Incas cornered structures with L-shaped blocks, built terrace buttresses into steep mountain slopes, rounded the corners in some buildings, and tilted the trapezoidal doors and windows inward. All of these small but ingenious details ensured that their structures were earthquake-ready.
There’s a Secret Suite Inside Disney World’s Cinderella Castle Cinderella’s castle at Walt Disney World in Orlando, Florida, holds a few secrets. For starters, the bricks used to build the tops of the tall towers are smaller than the bricks used for the lower part of the structure — an engineering trick used by the designers in many buildings here to make them appear even taller than they truly are. Perhaps even more surprising, there’s a hidden suite inside this castle that was originally designed to be an office for Walt Disney himself, but he died before the castle was completed. Cinderella’s castle isn’t the only one hiding a surprise: Sleeping Beauty’s resting place (at Disneyland in California) boasts an actual working drawbridge. Reportedly, it has been used just twice, once for the opening ceremony in 1955 and again in the 1980s when Fantasyland opened.
The Taj Mahal’s Four Minarets Look Perpendicular — But
They’re Not
In the 1600s, Mughal emperor Shah Jahan built India’s Taj Mahal to honor the memory of his third wife, Mumtaz Mahal. Four 130-foottall minarets surround the Taj Mahal’s central tomb, where Shah Jahan and his wife are both buried, and showcase the emperor’s passion for symmetrical design. At first glance, they seem to stand perfectly perpendicular to the ground; however, on closer inspection you’ll notice they are tilted slightly outwards. This wasn’t a design fault, but rather a way to protect the tomb in the event of a natural disaster — should the minarets fall, then the material would land away from the building. The four towers were built to be used by a muezzin, the person who calls daily prayers, and each features two balconies and an elevated dome-shaped pavilion, called a chattri.
Beijing’s Forbidden City Is the World’s Largest Imperial Palace
Occupying some 7.7 million square feet, the Forbidden City is the largest imperial palace on the planet. The mostvisited UNESCO World Heritage Site in the world, it features 980 individual buildings, which are home to almost 9,000 rooms. There are two distinct areas: The Inner Court served as the emperor’s residence, while the Outer Court was for ceremonial events. A 32-feet-high defensive wall protects the entire complex, around which is a 171-foot-wide moat. What’s inside is even more impressive: The palace is home to a reputed 1.9 million artifacts — everything from calligraphy, ceramics, and paintings to gold and silverware, literary works, and religious icons.
Some of the Stones at Stonehenge Came From Nearly 200 Miles Away Located in Wiltshire,
England, Stonehenge — roughly 5,000 years old — is one of the world’s most enigmatic monuments. It consists of roughly 100 bluestones and sarsens positioned upright and arranged in a circle. While the larger sarsens (a type of sandstone boulder) were hewn from the Marlborough Downs, which is relatively close to the site, the smaller bluestones have been traced to the Preseli Hills in southwest Wales, over 180 miles away. It’s hard to believe that its Neolithic builders — who lacked sophisticated tools or engineering — floated and dragged many of these giant lumps of rock over such a great distance, which only adds to the mystery of the original purpose of the stone circle.
Cambodia’s Angkor Wat Temple Is the World’s Largest Religious Structure
Sprawling across more than 400 acres in northern Cambodia, the Angkor Wat temple complex is the world’s largest religious structure. Erected by the Khmer Empire in the 12th century, this awe-inspiring monument began as a Hindu temple and was later converted into a Buddhist place of worship. The temple design is an architectural portrayal of Mount Meru, which is the center of the Hindu universe. The five towers represent the five peaks of the mountain, and the surrounding moat and defensive wall symbolize the oceans and mountain ranges. How colossal is Angkor Wat? It’s so large that many of its features are visible from space — just like the Sky Beam in Las Vegas and the Great Barrier Reef.
The Great Pyramid of Giza Was Once Fully Covered in White Limestone
The only one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World still standing, the Egyptian
Pyramid of Giza was constructed around 2550 BCE. At 454 feet tall, it was the world’s tallest building at the time — a title it held until the 14th century. In contrast to the weathered sand-colored blocks you see today, the pyramids were once completely covered in polished limestone. This higher-quality stone was
quarried at a place called Tura, which was about nine miles south of Giza. Its smooth, white surface would have gleamed in the sunshine, creating a dazzling effect. Today, most of the casing is gone except for a cap on the peak of the Pyramid of Khafre (Chephren), which has dulled over time.
New MDC hunting booklets available for deer, turkey, dove, waterfowl
New booklets are available where permits are sold and online at mdc.mo.gov.
JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. -- Missouri deer, turkey, waterfowl, and dove hunters can get the most current information on upcoming fall hunting from the Missouri Department of Conservation’s (MDC) new 2024 Fall Deer & Turkey Hunting Regulations and Information booklet and the Migratory Bird and Waterfowl Hunting Digest 2024-2025.
The 2024 Fall Deer & Turkey Hunting Regulations and Information booklet has detailed information on fall deer and turkey hunting seasons, limits, permits, managed hunts, regulations, conservation areas to hunt, post-harvest instructions, chronic wasting disease (CWD) updates, and more. The booklet is available where permits are sold and online at
mdc.mo.gov.
The Migratory Bird and Waterfowl Hunting Digest 2024-2025 has detailed information on waterfowl hunting along with hunting doves and other migratory game birds such as rail, snipe, and woodcock. It also has information on needed permits and duckstamp requirements, hunting seasons and limits, hunting areas, regulations, and more. The digest is available where permits are sold and online at mdc.mo.gov.
Buy Missouri hunting and fishing permits from numerous vendors around the state, online at mdc.mo.gov/permits, or through MDC’s free mobile app, MO Hunting, available for download through Google Play or the App Store.
